SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Despite bringing it down to a one-point game with 45 seconds remaining, Augustana women's basketball fell to Bemidji State, 70-64, on Friday night inside the Sanford Pentagon.
 
The loss drops the Vikings to 6-20 overall and 4-16 in the NSIC while the Beavers improve to 6-17 and 4-15.
 
Hannah Burg was the only Viking in double figures, leading with 26 points, four assists and three steals. Isabella Sanneh ripped down eight rebounds and Olivia Hayenga and Jordan Munson each logged a block.
 
Bemidji State exploded out to an 11-0 lead through the first three minutes of action, holding AU scoreless until the 6:58 mark. Uzor Uchidiuno nailed back-to-back layups in response and Paige Grant soon added in a completed three-point play off the and-1, making it a score of 14-8.
 
The Beavers continued to push, hitting five 3-pointers in the first period alone. CJ Adamson hit a triple of her own and Burg would end the quarter with a free throw, but the visitors remained ahead 21-12.
 
Kelsey Willems and Burg hit back-to-back layups to open the second and, in response, BSU would push the difference to 10 points at 28-18. Augustana held the Beavers scoreless for two minutes and dropped in four points, but soon gave up a 7-1 run for the visitors.
 
Sanneh scored the final four points of the quarter for Augustana but remained behind 39-27 at the end of the half.
 
Augustana scored the first three points of the third quarter and kicked off a back-and-forth shootout with Bemidji State. A triple from Hardy brought the difference down to single digits at 47-38 and the Vikings continued to fight to keep themselves in the game.
 
Grant and Hardy each grabbed a bucket as Burg's layup and following free throw closed in at 53-45 with 50 seconds remaining, but the Beavers took the 55-45 lead into the fourth.
 
Burg kicked off the final 10 minutes of action with a 3-pointer as Hayenga grabbed a steal on the ensuing possession to help put Sanneh at the free throw line. The two teams traded blows until AU rattled off a 12-2 run over four minutes of action.
 
Another 3-pointer from Burg forced a one-point game at 65-64 with 45 seconds remaining, but trips to the free throw line for the Beavers and errors by the Vikings would end it, 70-64.
 
The Augustana women's basketball team will hit the court once again on Saturday afternoon for Senior Day action with a 5:30 p.m. tip against St. Cloud State.