SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana women's basketball team led for nearly 29 minutes but fell just short in a 76-72 loss to No. 18 Sioux Falls Saturday afternoon inside the Sanford Pentagon.
 
Augustana built a lead as large as 13 points, hitting the mark with 1:33 remaining in the third quarter on an Izzy Van Veldhuizen 3-point basket. However, Sioux Falls used a 19-3 run, covering the end of the third quarter and midway into the fourth quarter, to take a 62-59 advantage with 5:43 remaining in the game.
 
Augustana was unable to recover the lead as the Cougars made their free throws in the closing moments in the 76-72 final score.
 
Augustana controlled the opening half and shot 56.7 percent from the field in the opening two quarters on 17-of-30 shot attempts. The Vikings then shot 39.4 percent in the second half while the Cougars jumped to 50 percent in the half.
 
After an opening free throw by USF, Augustana took a 3-1 lead on an Abby Hora trey. For the remainder of the half and until the 5:43 mark in the fourth quarter, the Vikings held the lead.
 
Hora tallied a team-high 14 points for the Vikings while Hannah Mitby totaled a career-best 13 points. Aislinn Duffy added 12 points and Janelle Shiffler had 11 points off the bench.
 
Sioux Falls was led by Augusta Thramer with 20 points.
 
The Vikings hit the road for the first time in 2020 by traveling to Upper Iowa on Friday and Winona State on Saturday.