BOX SCORE

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana College put together a key run to end the first half and never looked back in earning an 85-54 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener for both teams.

SMSU (1-4, 0-1 NSIC) held a 21-19 lead with five minutes and 45 seconds left in the opening half, before Augustana (4-1, 1-0 NSIC) closed the half on a 17-6 run to take a nine-point halftime lead.  The Vikings then started the second half scoring the first seven points and cruised to its ninth victory over SMSU in the last 10 meetings.

Abby Kenealy scored a game-high 18 points with a team-high seven rebounds for SMSU with teammate Bree Holleman adding 11 points, six rebounds and four assists.  Hannah Beeler came off the bench to score eight points for SMSU in 10 minutes. 

SMSU finished the game shooting 36 percent (20 of 55) from the field and committed 23 turnovers.

SMSU started strong scoring the game's first 10 points and held a 13-3 lead with 15 minutes and 53 seconds left in the first half with Holleman leading the Mustangs with three 3-pointers.  Augustana then answered and rallied to tie the game at 17 with 7:56 remaining in half. 

Kenealy gave the Mustangs the lead back at 21-19 at the 5:45 mark, but the Vikings answered with the decisive run to build a 36-27 halftime lead. 

After scoring the first 10 points in the game's first 3:16, SMSU had just 23 points over the next 27 minutes of play and trailed 62-33 with 8:34 left in the game.

Augustana had five players score in double figures with Faith Tinklenberg leading the way with 16 points on 6 of 10 shooting.

Southwest Minnesota State will continue play tomorrow at Wayne State starting at 4 p.m.  The Wildcats (7-0, 1-0 NSIC) are ranked No. 4 and were the preseason favorite in the NSIC.