Augustana University Athletics

BOX SCORE

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana women's basketball team used a balanced attack to end a three-game losing streak in a 83-72 win against Bemidji State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Friday. The Vikings' record improved to 7-5 (1-3 NSIC) while the Beavers fell to 2-6 (0-4 NSIC) with the loss.

Shaunteva Ashley turned in a dominant performance for Augustana, picking up the second double-double of her career with 18 points and 13 assists. Ashley's 13 assists were one off the school record set back in 1996 by Sandra Zwach. Both of Ashley's double-doubles have come against BSU, the first one back during her freshman year.

Nicole Kerkhoff had 15 points and four rebounds in the victory, her fourth game this season in double figures.

Hayley McCarron provided a scoring spark of the bench, scoring a season-high 10 points in 13 minutes.

Bemidji State was led by Sierra Senske, who recorded her first collegiate double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. The redshirt freshman was a perfect 8 of 8 from the field in the contest.

Tatum Sheley chipped in 15 points for the Beavers in the loss.

The Vikings' win helped avoid their first four-game losing streak in over a decade.

Augustana got a nice boost from its defense in the opening minutes to take a 9-6 lead at the first media timeout. The Vikings were able to limit the Beavers to 25 percent shooting in the first 6:30 of the opening half.

BSU fought its way back into the game with some solid shot selections, resulting in its first lead of the contest at 18-17 after Allison Cordes' jumper from the free throw line with 9:14 left. Cordes' basket was part of a 9-0 run for Bemidji State.

The Beavers built their lead to as much as six, but the Vikings pushed the pace to get some easy baskets in transition and started to wear down BSU, going on a 13-4 run in 2:29 late in the half to retake the lead at 34-31 after Ashley drained a free throw to complete a three-point play.

Augustana held on to its lead the rest of the half, taking a three-point lead into halftime at 41-38, its offensive attack powered by Ashley's game-high 12 points and six assists in the first 20 minutes.

The Vikings shot 17 of 35 (48.5 percent) from the field, while Bemidji State finished the half at 51.6 percent (16 for 31).

Kerkhoff got her game going early in the second half scoring Augustana's first seven points in the opening minutes, all coming in the paint.

A strong finish on a contact layup by Sophie Kenney pushed the Vikings' lead to seven at 59-52 with 11:03 left in the half. For Kenney, it was her ninth point of the night.

Augustana made its move a little over halfway through the second half with an 8-1 run in two minutes to push its lead to double digits at 67-57 after a made jumper by Paige Peterson.

Ashley set her career high for assists in the game with her 12th on a Kerkhoff layup with 5:14 left in the night.

The Beavers wouldn't get any closer than nine points the rest of the way, losing 83-72, and giving the Vikings a much-needed win to build some momentum going forward.

Have yourself a night
Ashley's 18 points and 13 assists were just the second time the senior has had a double-double in her collegiate career, the last time coming her freshman year against, you guessed it, Bemidji St. The Sioux Fall native's 13 assists were also just one short of the school record set by former Viking great Sandra Zwach.

Up next
Augustana closes out its homestand with a game against Minnesota Crookston on Saturday at 4 p.m. The game will be played at the Sioux Falls Arena.