SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A frantic fourth-quarter comeback attempt fell short for the Augustana women's basketball team in a 60-55 loss Friday night to Southwest Minnesota State.
 
Augustana (6-5, 2-5 NSIC) trailed by as many as 15 points in the third quarter and entered the final stanza down 11 points at 44-33. That jumpstarted a 15-5 run as the Vikings pulled within a single digit at 49-48 on a pair of Hannah Mitby free throws with 3:55 remaining in the game.
 
During the run, Abby Hora totaled seven of her team-high 18 points.
 
The Mustangs (6-6, 1-6 NSIC) answered the run with a layup to stretch the lead back to three points but a pair of Mitby free throws again cut the deficit to just one point. After SMSU again answered with a layup, Hora made the score 53-52 but that was the closest Augustana would get as Southwest Minnesota State stretched the lead back to six points before settling on the final score of 60-55.
 
The Vikings had a tough evening shooting the ball and shot just 33.3 percent on 21-of-63 shot attempts. The night got even more difficult from deep, hitting just three long-range field goals on 21 attempts.
 
Aislinn Duffy joined Hora in double-figure scoring with 12 points while grabbing a game-high eight rebounds.
 
Southwest was led by Madison Gehloff with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting.
 
Augustana remains at home Saturday hosting Sioux Falls inside the Sanford Pentagon. Tip-off is slated for 3:30 p.m.