BOX SCORE SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – 18th-ranked Augustana cruised to a season-opening win over Mount Marty College (1-2) on Saturday night behind 15 points from senior
Alex Feeney and freshman
Riley Nordgaard.
Lydia Nelson added 14 points on 7 of 13 shooting for the Vikings in the win.
Augustana improves to 24-2 all-time in home openers and 15-6 all-time against Mount Marty.
Nordgaard and
Faith Tinklenberg led Augustana on the glass each with eight points.
Augustana (1-0) shot 50 percent from the field but could not find its rhythm from 3-point range, connecting on just 4 of 24 shots from behind the arc. Augustana used its size down low finishing with 47 rebounds while Mount Mary grabbed 27.
The Vikings also dominated the paint on the offensive side of the court finishing with 52 of its 95 points in the paint. Augustana also forced 23 turnovers, led by
Emily Schulte who finished with four steals helping the Vikings to 28 points off turnovers.
After a slow start by both teams in the first four minutes, Mount Mary led 5-4 before Augustana went on a 15-2 run taking a 19-7 lead over the next five minutes.
From that point on it was all Augustana as the Vikings would go on to take a 40-24 lead at halftime.
Lydia Nelson caught fire midway through the first half connecting on 6 of 9 shots from the field to lead all players with 12 points in the half.
Augustana started off the game shooting poorly but finished the half shooting 47 percent from the field. Mount Marty shot 33 percent from the field and each team hit just one 3-pointer. Augustana was 1 of 11 from behind the arc in the half.
Augustana used its size dominating the paint for 26 points. The Vikings also outrebounded the Lancers 26-12 in the half.
The Vikings got even better as the night went on shooting 53 percent from the field in the second half. Feeney caught fire in the second connecting on 4 of 6 shots including a 3-pointer.
A large number of Vikings got in on the scoring, with 11 of 12 to see the floor making a bucket.
Cami Koehn finished the game 12 points on 4 of 11 shooting while Tinklenberg added seven.
Augustana continues non-conference play on Wednesday, Nov. 14, hosting Dakota Wesleyan at 6 p.m.
