FAYETTE, IOWA – The Augustana women's basketball team defeated the Peacocks of Upper Iowa, 82-79, in Fayette, Iowa, Saturday. The Vikings advance their record to 21-3 overall while holding a 15-3 record within the NSIC. Upper Iowa drops to a 9-14 overall record while holding a 5-13 record in the loop. Augustana has remained undefeated against Upper Iowa with a 31 game win-streak.
Aislinn Duffy recorded a career-high 35 points, while also collecting nine rebounds, three steals and one block.
Duffy found her spark early in the contest scoring the first five points for Augustana with a layup and a shot from behind the arc. UIU responded with its own 3-pointer to tie it at 5-all. AU picked up a 6-0 run with layups from Duffy, CJ Adamson and the NSIC South Division Player of the Week, Michaela Jewett. However, a 10-2 scoring run from the Peacocks sent UIU up with its first lead since the 8:52 mark of the first quarter. The Vikings fought back to clinch a two point lead until a final trip to the charity stripe and a jumper at the buzzer helped UIU lead 21-19 at the end of quarter one.
Following pursuit of her first quarter performance, Duffy opened the second quarter with another 3-pointer to garner her 14th point of the night. UIU held the scoring advantage until another Duffy 3-pointer fell in addition to two 3-pointers from Jennifer Aadland. Aby Phipps made the crucial difference for AU in the final seconds of the half recording a layup and a trip to the free throw line. A second shot at the buzzer by Helen Staley fell for Upper Iowa bringing the Vikings up just by two, 36-34 heading into halftime.
At the half, Augustana was led by Duffy with 17 points, eight rebounds and one block. Lauren Sees collected three assists and one steal to lead those categories.
Coming out of halftime Jewett caught her mark behind the arc with a 3-pointer from deep. UIU mirrored with its own to bring the Peacocks back within one. It was a back-and-forth scoring frenzy with additional 3-pointers from Duffy and Jewett. AU pulled ahead by five at the 3:10 mark of the third quarter, but from there Upper Iowa would find multiple trips to the charity stripe and a shot from behind the arc to gain a two-point advantage over the Vikings. A last second layup from Duffy tied the contest at 59-all heading into the final quarter.
Heading into the fourth quarter Duffy continued her career-high campaign knocking down AU's first four points of the quarter. Continuing to trade back-and-forth baskets, both benches stayed neck-and-neck continuing to exchange the lead. A combined eight-trips to the free throw line ended the contest resulting in an 82-79 victory for Augustana.
Overall, Augustana was led by Duffy with 35 points, nine rebounds, three steals and one block. Jewett and Aadland each tallied 12 points apiece. Sees garnered 11 points while tying Duffy with nine rebounds.
Up Next
Augustana plays host next weekend to Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State on Friday and Saturday. Both games take place in the Sanford Pentagon with Friday nights tip-off slated for a 7:30 p.m. start, while Saturday nights tip-off starts at 5:30 p.m.
–GoAugie.com–
