SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana women's basketball team led from start-to-finish in an 87-78 win over Minnesota State Friday evening inside the Sanford Pentagon. The Vikings forced 28 turnovers on the evening, scoring 29 points off those turnovers.
 
With the win, Augustana moves into a tie for fourth place in the NSIC South Division standings with a 10-9 league mark while improving to 14-9 overall on the season. The Mavericks fall to 13-10 overall and are also 10-9 in the NSIC.
 
The Vikings jumped out to a fast start, outscoring the Mavericks 25-13 in the first quarter, then held off the visitors in the final period.
 
Augustana had its lead balloon to 19 points in the second quarter when Lizzie Karp scored on a layup with 6:59 remaining in the first half. The Vikings then entered halftime holding a 44-33 lead.
 
Thanks to a 12-point third quarter from Hannah Mitby, the Vikings again increased their lead in the third quarter, holding a 66-50 advantage entering the fourth period. The 12 points were part of a game-high of 23 points for Mitby.
 
In a fast-paced fourth quarter, the Mavericks actually outscored Augustana 28-21, thanks to 18 points from their bench, but it was not enough as the Vikings prevailed 87-78. The point total is the most this season for AU.
 
Hana Beyer tallied 16 points in the game, jump started by 12 points in the first half on 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point land. She ended the evening 6-of-8 from the field. Aislinn Duffy totaled 14 points and nine rebounds.
 
Augustana shot 42.6 percent from the field on 26-of-61 shot attempts. The Mavericks shot 49.2 percent on 30-of-61 shot attempts, but were hampered by the 28 turnovers. Mitby recorded a career-best five steals while the NSIC leader in steals, Beyer, totaled four. McKenzee Zilverberg and Abby Hora also recorded four steals, each.
 
The Vikings return to the Sanford Pentagon Saturday afternoon hosting Concordia-St. Paul at 3:30 p.m. The contest is Senior Day for the Vikings, where they will honors Danni Honner, Beyer, Hora and Zilverberg for their careers.