MOORHEAD, Minn. - The Augustana University women's basketball team (18-6, 13-5 NSIC) came to Moorhead, Minn. fired up and it showed early as they were able to score 28-points in the opening quarter on their way to defeating the Dragons of MSU Moorhead 74-69.
The first two quarters of action were what many would expect out of two of the top teams in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Vikings jumped out to an early 10-2 lead behind senior
Nicole Kerkhoff who was finding open shot after open shot.
The Dragons didn't go away however as they used a 14-5 run of their own to get back with in one. After the Vikings won the first-quarter, it was the Dragons who won the second, outscoring Augustana 16-11. The Vikings though would get a huge layup from freshman
Lynsey Prosser as the end of the half to give the Vikings a 39-35 advantage at the break.
The third-quarter couldn't have started any better for Augustana as they scored the first 11-points. Freshman
Shelby Selland was a huge part of that, knocking down back-to-back triples on the Vikings first two possessions. The Vikings used that early momentum to score 25-points in the quarter, and extending their lead to 10 after three quarters of play.
The Dragons would not go away in the fourth-quarter as they mounted a furious comeback. With under three minutes to play the Dragons hit back-to-back-back three-point baskets to cut the Vikings 12-point lead to just three. The score would get no closer than that as the Dragons would turn the ball over on their next two possessions.
With 4.3 seconds remaining, following a change in possession that went in the Vikings favor, Kenney would get fouled and knock down two clutch free-throws that sealed the Viking victory 74-69.
VIKINGS OF NOTENicole Kerkhoff had a first-quarter to remember in Moorhead, Minn. as she went off for 13-points in the first 10 minutes of action. She was held in check for the next two quarters but when she was need most Kerkhoff scored four-points in the fourth-quarter. Kerkhoff also earned fifth double-double of the season with 10 rebounds.
Logan O'Farrell was just as effective early against the Dragons as she was able to score nine points and bring down seven rebounds in the first half. She continued to have success in the second half, earning her third double-double of the season and fourth of her career. O'Farrell ended the night with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
VIKING QUICK HITS• Augustana shot just 37 percent from the field in the first half but still scored 39 points
• Kerkhoff scored 13-points in the first-quarter to help Augustana get  an early 28-19 lead
• The Vikings were clutch from the free-throw throughout the night going 15-of-18 from the line, 83 percent
• Four Vikings scored in double-digits: Kerkhoff (17), O'Farrell (12),
Sydney Rome (11) and Kenney (10)
• The Vikings had 18 second chance points to the Dragon's seven
• MSUM outscored the Viking bench 18-15
• Augustana was able to score 19-points off turnovers
UP NEXTThe Vikings will be on the road once again next weekend as they travel to Southwest Minnesota State and the University of Sioux Falls.
