ABERDEEN, S.D. - The Augustana women's basketball team (17-6, 11-6 NSIC) saw their three game winning streak come to an end Friday night in Aberdeen, S.D. as the Vikings began their weekend road trip with a loss to Northern State 60-57.
 
Augustana fell into an early hole against Northern State (17-5, 13-4 NSIC) after only scoring two points in the first-quarter but the Vikings battled back thanks in-part to the strong play of sophomore Naomi Rust who scored nine of her 13-points in the second-quarter.
 
The Vikings continued to battle in the second half as they outscored the Wolves 21-15 in the third-quarter. During the quarter the Vikings were 3-of-7 from behind the three-point line and 9-of-12 from the charity stripe.
 
In the fourth-quarter the Vikings cut the deficit to just 3, erasing what was a 17-point deficit, after senior Nicole Kerkhoff hit a triple from the corner. Northern State went on a little 4-0 run but the Vikings matched that with a 5-0 run of their own, highlighted by senior Sophie Kenney hitting a clutch triple to cut the deficit to just two. The three pointers didn't stop there as freshman Shelby Selland and sophomore Logan O'Farrell would each knock triples of their own down on each of the Vikings next two possessions. The Vikings trailed by just one with under a minute to play but the Wolves were able to with stand a late Viking rush to spoil Augustana's comeback attempt.
 
VIKING OF NOTE
Naomi Rust had a great game against Northern State, setting a new career-high in points scored with 13-points. Rust added a much needed spark off the Viking bench. In 24 minutes of action Rust scored 13-points, nine of which came in the second-quarter. Rust also added six rebounds to her stat line. Rust's previous career-high was set on Nov. 21, 2014 against William Penn.
 
VIKING QUICK HITS
• The Vikings two points scored in the first-quarter was there lowest quarter total of the season
• Rust was the only Vikings to reach double-digit points
• Augustana erased a 17-point deficit, trailing by just one with under 30 seconds to play
• Augustana outscored Northern State in the final three quarters
• For the game the Vikings shot 37 percent from the field, 31 percent from the 3-point line and 72 percent from the charity stripe

UP NEXT
The Vikings will be on the road once again tomorrow night as the travel to MSU Moorhead to take on the Dragons. Tip-off tomorrow night is set for 4 p.m.