SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Augustana women's basketball team advanced to the quarterfinals of the NSIC Tournament after their 70-61 win over Minot State. The Vikings were led by junior guard Logan O'Farrell who nearly recorded a triple-double.

Wednesday night's contest started out slow for each team. The game's first points game with 7:52 left in the first quarter when Shelby Selland hit a triple. After Minot State tied the game at three, the Vikings went on 4-0 run to take a 7-3 lead at the midway point of the quarter. Following a 7-5 score, Augustana went on a 6-2 run to take a 6-point lead at 13-7. The two teams closed the quarter trading buckets and the Vikings took an 18-13 lead into the second quarter.

Minot State opened the second with a triple to cut the Vikings lead to two. For the next five minutes, each team matched the other point-for-point. The Vikings led by four at 27-23 before picking it up on the offensive end. Over the final 2:30 of the half, Augustana went on a 9-2 run, including a 7-0 to end the half, to take a 36-27 lead into the break.

After the Beavers scored the first points of the third quarter, the Vikings scored six straight to take a 15-point lead. Over the final five minutes of the quarter, the Vikings outscored the Beavers 10-7 to take a 52-36 lead into the final frame.

Augustana broke the game open at the start of the fourth quarter, going on an 11-0 run to take a 27-point lead at 63-36 but then Minot State control the final 4:50 of the game. Minot State scored 10 of the next 12 points to cut Augustana's lead to 19. Following a 4-0 Viking run, MSU scored 15 of the final 16 points but Augustana was able to hold on for a 70-61 opening round victory.

Viking of the Game
Logan O'Farrell had  fantastic game for the Vikings as she earned her fifth double-double of the season after scoring 11-points and grabbing 10 rebounds. O'Farrell was a force on the defensive end with a career-high six blocked shots. She fell one blocked shot shy of tying the NSIC Tournament record. O'Farrell also had seven assists and four steals on the night.

Viking Notables
• Augustana improved to 8-1 all-time against Minot State
• This was Augustana's fifth straight win in the series
• Logan set a career-high with six blocked shots
• Three Vikings reached double-digit points: Shelby Selland (16), Sydney Rome (15), O'Farrell (11)
• O'Farrell led the Vikings in assists and rebounds
• Paige Peterson added six boards and seven points
• Naomi Rust had eight points and four rebounds off the bench
• Augustana shot 42 percent from the field and 22 percent from behind the arc

Up Next
No. 1 Augustana will play No. 5 Winona State in the NSIC Quarterfinals on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The Vikings and Warriors will play at the Sanford Pentagon.