SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Despite two players in double figures and a career-high from Kelsey Willems, the Augustana women's basketball team fell 69-55 on Saturday evening to Minot State inside the Elmen Center.
 
The Vikings move to 3-15 overall and 1-11 in conference play so far this season while the Beavers improve to 5-14 this year and 4-8 in the NSIC.
 
Olivia Hayenga and Willems each added in 11 points to lead the Vikings in scoring while Isabella Sanneh and Brinlee McRae chipped in nine apiece. Hannah Burg tallied in six assists and six rebounds as Willems also led with five steals and Isabella Sanneh logged a block.  
 
Augustana struck first to start the game but soon found themselves behind 8-2 following free throws from MSU. A layup from Sanneh and a 3-pointer from Hayenga made it a one-point game and the Beavers hit a triple in response. The Vikings then scored seven straight, capped by Sanneh tacking on an and-one to help put the home team ahead 14-11 at the first break.
 
Minot State hit four 3-pointers to open scoring in the second period, rattling off 12 unanswered points to take the 23-14 advantage. Kelsey Willems knocked down a triple of her own and Burg completed the and-one to bring it back to a three-point difference. The Beavers would end the quarter on a scorching 12-2 run and despite Hayenga hitting the final bucket, the visitors would hold the 35-24 lead at halftime.
 
MSU continued to push out of the locker room, fighting off a bucket from Payton Hardy and tallying an 8-2 run to go up by 15. Sanneh hit a layup to break the streak but the Beavers again responded with 10 straight points. Paige Grant would hit the last layup of the quarter and the Vikings would remain down 53-32.
 
Augustana gained momentum heading into the final period, out-scoring its opponent 23-16 in the final 10 minutes. Back-to-back shots from Hayenga, free throws from Jordan Munson, eight points from Willems and all nine of McRae's points were all highlights of the fourth quarter but the damage had already been done. Minot State would take the game 69-55.
 
UP NEXT
Augustana will hit the road for Minnesota next weekend with games against MSU Moorhead on Friday and Minnesota Crookston on Saturday.