Box Score

MARHSALL, MINN. - Augustana nailed six free throws in the final two minutes of overtime to serve Southwest Minnesota State a 67-60 conference loss Friday night in Marshall.

Augie improves to 13-4 (7-3 NSIC), while SMSU drops to 10-10 (2-8 NSIC).

It was SMSU's second overtime loss of the season.  The Mustangs also dropped a 64-611 overtime decision to Mary earlier this season.

Megan Wittcop sank four three-pointers on the evening and finished with a season-high and team-high 12 points for SMSU.  Megan Stadler also clipped double digits with 11 points.

Sara Lediall, SMSU's usual offensive threat, was relatively quiet in the scoring column, netting just six points.  She was, however, strong on the glass for the Mustangs, grabbing a team-high 12 boards.

The front court duo of Abby Kenealy and Laura Kramer was the driving force behind SMSU's ability to take a seven-point lead five minutes deep into the first half.  The two post players combined for ten points and six boards in the opening half.

Augie would battle though, taking a one-point lead at 12-11 off a pair of Amy Puthoff free throws.  The two squads exchanged leads the remainder of the half.  Puthoff sank a three-pointer with 1:48 left in the half to give the Vikings a one-point lead at the break.

Puthoff jump started the second half, nailing another three-pointer just 40 seconds in.  A seven-point lead emerged in Augie's favor.  Forced to rally, the Mustangs did just that, using a Lediall layup at the midway point of the second to take a one point lead at 46-45.

Again, the Mustangs and Vikings exchanged leads.

Augie led by two with just over two minutes remaining in regulation, but a Wittcop three-pointer erased that deficit and gave the Mustangs a 52-51 advantage. Augie's Whitney Hoffer was then fouled by  Kramer, giving the VIkings a chance to take the lead.  Hoffer missed her first free throw but sank her second to tie the game at 52-52.

On the ensuing possession, Stadler was fouled and went to the line to shoot the bonus but missed her first attempt, giving the Vikings a chance to take the lead; however, Megan Doyle's jumper was off the mark.  Doyle managed to get her own rebound, and after a Vikings timeout, Kramer fouled Whitney Hoffer again, creating another chance for a  Viking lead.

Hoffer missed both free throws, setting up another possession for SMSU, but Witcopp could not convert on a jumper from the left wing.  Augie had one last possession, but a Chelsea DeVille layup just before time expired did not fall, sending the game to overtime.

The Vikings were dominant in the overtime period, scoring the first five points before SMSU finally answered with a Wittcop three-pointer.  A minute after Wittcops trey, Stadler nailed one of her own to give the Mustangs a 58-57 lead.  But the Vikings were tough, putting together a 7-2 run to finish and seal the victory.

Amy Puthoff's game-high 24 points and 13 rebounds led Augie; Doyle and Hofer added 14 and 11 points, respectively.

This was the second meeting between SMSU and Augie this season as the Vikings defeated the Mustangs 75-58 on Nov. 29.

SMSU hosts Wayne State tomorrow for Hawaiian NIght at 6 p.m.