BOX SCORE

MANKATO, Minn. – A career night by Nicole Kerkhoff wasn't enough for the Augustana women's basketball team in a 92-80 loss to Minnesota State at the Taylor Center on Friday. The loss dropped the Vikings to 6-3 (0-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference), while the Mavericks improved to 4-2 (1-0 NSIC).

Augustana's defense had trouble keeping up with the quick ball movement from MSU all night, giving up a season-high 92 points in the loss.

Kerkhoff had her best outing of the year, recording 19 points and 11 rebounds, both career highs. It was the first double-double performance by a Viking player this season.

Logan O'Farrell kept up her strong start to the season, scoring a career-most 20 points. The Summit, S.D. native went 6 for 7 (85.7 percent) in the game.

Shaunteva Ashley added 14 points in the loss, 10 coming in the second half. Ashley's 14 points snapped a three-game run of scoring at least 23 points in a game for Augustana.

MSU had a balanced scoring attack, with five players scoring in double figures in the ballgame, led by Ashley Olson's 17 points and eight rebounds.

Lexie Ulfers turned in a double-double effort for Minnesota State with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

The Mavericks got off to a quick start, using a 7-0 run early to take a 13-7 lead going into the under-15 media timeout. O'Farrell had the Vikings first five points to open the contest.

Augustana answered coming out of the timeout with a 9-3 run of its own over the next 2:55 to cut the MSU lead to two after a 3-pointer by Sydney Rome, her first basket of the contest.

Kerkhoff powered the Vikings back into the game a little over halfway through the first, scoring eight of her 10 first-half points during a 10-0 run, the last basket tying the game up at 31-31 with 3:36 remaining.

Minnesota State closed out the half strong late, using a 7-0 of its own in the final 45 seconds to take a 42-35 lead into the half.

Kerkhoff finished the half with 10 points and six rebounds.

Aubrey Davis took advantage of Ashley not being on the floor to guard her for a good portion of the half, leading all scorers with 15 points going into the break for the Mavericks.

The story of the first 20 minutes of play was MSU's ability to force a usually sure-handed Augustana team into 11 turnovers, resulting in a 12-2 advantage in points off of turnovers.

Ashley started finding her grove in the second half, scoring six points in the first 3:49 to up her total to 10 on the night as the Vikings trailed 54-47.

Kerkhoff's strong play continued with the junior forward attacking the glass for Augustana, highlighted by an offensive rebound and putback layup to give her 17 in the game, a new career high.

Minnesota State made its move in this one with 8:44 left to go after a Claire Jordan layup sparked a 19-10 run over the next 5:12 to push its lead to 14, the largest of the game, at 83-69.

The Vikings never got any closer than eight points the rest of the way, losing 92-80.

Battle on the glass
The Mavericks were really able to control the action on the glass, finishing the game with a +12 rebounding margin, which allowed for them to score 17 second-chance points on the night.

Up next
Augustana closes out the road trip with a meeting against Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.