SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A balanced effort pushed the Augustana women's basketball to its first win of the season, powering past Nebraska-Kearney 66–58 on Thursday night inside the Elmen Center.
The Vikings (1-2) held a 30-0 scoring advantage off the bench while seven Vikings scored at least five points in the victory.
Greta Dillinger had 12 points and was 4 of 5 from three while going a +17 on the court.
Kristin Edmonds also had 12 points and four 3-pointers while hitting several momentum-shifting threes, including a big fourth-quarter bucket to halt a UNK run. A spark plug off the bench,
Ella Bockenstedt had 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds while
Payton Hardy tallied nine points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
Augustana shot 11-of-28 from three (39%), outpacing UNK's 9-of-25. AU dominated the glass with a 48–30 rebounding advantage, including 15 second-chance points and never trailed in the fourth quarter, holding the lead for more than nine minutes of the period.
Nebraska–Kearney opened the night fast, taking a 14–12 lead after the first quarter behind efficient perimeter shooting. The Vikings countered in the second, using a burst from
Ella Bockenstedt and
Greta Dillinger off the bench to put together a 10–0 run and carry a 32–31 advantage into halftime.
The third quarter became a defensive grind, but Augustana delivered a key momentum swing late.
Kristin Edmonds knocked down a transition three with 5:55 left in the frame, sparking a 10–3 stretch that allowed AU to take a 45–40 lead into the fourth.
From there, Augustana took control.
Payton Hardy opened the quarter with two free throws before Bockenstedt buried a mid-range jumper to push the lead to 49–40. After UNK trimmed the margin to 49–46, the Vikings responded again with back-to-back baskets and another Edmonds three, stretching the lead to six. Augustana went 10-of-14 at the free-throw line in the final four minutes to fend off the Lopers' last push.
The Vikings return to the court on Saturday, traveling to Fayette, Iowa for a matchup with Upper Iowa.
