ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Despite Abby Hora matching a career-high with 23 points, the Augustana women's basketball team fell 71-67 Saturday afternoon at St. Cloud State.
 
Hora totaled her 23 points on nine-made field goals and gave the Vikings their first lead of the game with 5:20 remaining in the third quarter. The senior sank a 3-point basket to push AU ahead 42-41, a lead that eventually grew to four points at 47-43 thanks to a 3-point basket from McKenzee Zilverberg.
 
However, St. Cloud State clawed its way back and entered the fourth quarter leading 50-48. The lead bounced back-and-forth four times between ties and lead changes in the final stanza. The Vikings held their final lead of the game at 54-52 but saw it evaporate on a 6-0 SCSU run.
 
The lead came on a pair of Hora free throws with 6:20 remaining and on the ensuing Huskies' possession, Nikki Kilboten sank a pair of free throws to tie the game. Madelin Dammann then sank a pair of free throws to give the home team a lead it would not relinquish down the stretch.
 
Augustana had its chances down the stretch including an old-fashioned three-point play from junior Hannah Mitby, but could not get over the final hump one more time in the 71-67 setback.
 
Augustana (13-9, 9-9 NSIC) outscored St. Cloud State (17-5, 14-4 NSIC) in the second and third quarters. In the second quarter, AU shot 50 percent from the field on 7-of-14 field goal attempts, matching SCSU for a quarter high in the game. Overall, Augustana shot 38.1 percent from the field on 24-of-63 shot attempts. The Huskies were 22-of-55 for 40 percent.
 
After Hora's 23 points, redshirt freshman Aislinn Duffy scored 13 points and Zilberberg totaled 11. Senior Hana Beyer corralled eight rebounds to lead the Vikings.
 
The Vikings held a 15-2 scoring margin on points from turnovers after forcing the Huskies into 14 turnovers. St. Cloud State was led by Kilboten with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Augustana returns to the Sanford Pentagon on Friday hosting Minnesota State at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Vikings host Concordia-St. Paul at 3:30 p.m. in the regular-season home finale.