MARSHALL, Minn. – The Augustana women's basketball team fell 72-65 in the regular-season finale at Southwest Minnesota State Saturday afternoon in Marshall, Minnesota.
 
The Vikings, who will host a home game in the first round of the NSIC Tournament, fall to 16-10 overall and 12-10 in NSIC action. The Mustangs improve to 16-11 overall and 11-11 in league play.
 
The two squads battled to a 15-all score after the first quarter but it was all Augustana in the second period, outscoring the home squad 23-18. Augustana outscored SMSU 10-5 over the final 2:11 of the half to enter intermission leading 38-33. Redshirt freshman Lizzy Karp gave AU a three-point edge at 36-33 before sophomore Janelle Shiffler scored a layup with the clock expiring for the lead.
 
Augustana then saw its lead go as high as 10 points in the third quarter but a cold-spell saw the Mustangs go on a 17-4 run to close the quarter with a three-point advantage at 55-52.
 
Southwest then built its lead to seven points at 70-63 with just under three minutes on the clock, a margin that would serve as the final tally with the Vikings falling 72-65.
 
 Junior Hannah Mitby led the Vikings with 13 points while Shiffler tallied 11 points. Karp contributed 10 points and five rebounds for Augustana who shot 37.7 percent from the field on 26-of-69 shot attempts.
 
Sadie Stelter and Jenna Borcheres combined for 10 3-point baskets, scoring 19 and 17 points, respectively.
 
Augustana is set to host Bemidji State in the first round of the NSIC Tournament on Wednesday inside the Sanford Pentagon. Stay tuned to GoAugie.com for game time and ticket information.