BOX SCORE
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Double-figure scoring efforts from five different players helped Augustana to a 98-66 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory over MSU Moorhead Sunday afternoon in Sioux Falls.
Augustana improves to 7-3 (4-2 NSIC); MSUM falls to 4-5 (1-4 NSIC).
Molly Hayes unloaded a season- and game-high 26 points on the Dragons. She was joined in double figures by
Faith Tinklenberg (16),
Lydia Nelson (16),
Shaunteva Ashley (13) and
Alex Feeney (10).
Hayes also handed out six assists in the Viking win, while Feeney and
Emily Bose each grabbed six boards.
Angela Christianson connected on 13 of 13 free throws and led MSUM with 15 points. Angie Jetvig added a game-high 10 rebounds.
Augustana shot a season-high 53.1 percent from the floor. The Viking defense also forced 18 MSUM turnovers and held the Dragons to a 36.0 shooting percentage.
A 50-percent shooting effort in the first half sparked a Viking offense that quickly collected a double-figure lead. Six first-half 3-pointers, including three from Tinklenberg, were a large part of the Augustana spurt.
The Vikings took their first double-figure lead with 11:37 left in the first half when Ashley drilled a 3-pointer for a 21-9 Augustana advantage.
Four minutes later, the Vikings strung together a 10-0 run--capped by back-to-back 3-pointers from Tinklenberg--to take a 36-17 lead.
Augustana extended the deficit to as many as 24 points and was ahead 45-22 at halftime.
Hayes led all scorers with 14 points at the break, while Tinklenberg had 12.
An even hotter shooting performance by the Vikings in the final half only served to extend the already commanding lead. The Vikings connected at a 56.3-percent clip in the second half and led by as many as 33 points at the 3:32 mark.
Augustana hit another six 3-pointers in the final 20 minutes.
All five of the Vikings' starters were in double figures, but Augustana still received 17 bench points. A lively Viking offense also scored 23 fast-break points.
Bose and fellow post player
Andrea Whitney each registered three blocks as the Vikings swatted eight Dragon shots.
Augustana travels to St. Cloud State and Concordia University, St. Paul on Jan. 2 and 3.
