> Box Score
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana College used a big run to open the second half and went on to earn an 84-58 victory over Southwest Minnesota State University in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball on Friday night at the Sioux Falls Arena.
Augustana (17-9, 11-8) held a 34-33 halftime lead, but opened the second half on a 22-2 run in the opening seven minutes to pull away and earn a split in the season series. SMSU (3-20, 3-16 NSIC) won the earlier meeting this season, 77-71 in Marshall on Jan. 3.
SMSU committed a season-high 34 turnovers, including 22 in the second half. The Mustangs shot 43 percent (20 of 47) in the game, but just 32 percent in the second half.
Paige Hendrickson led the Mustangs with nine points, while Hope Bonlander and Annessa Rosch each chipped in with eight points each. Rosch, Emilee Duske and Lauren Hedlund each grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
Augustana had five players score in double figures with Shaunteva Ashley leading the charge with 15 points, while adding nine assists, five steals and five rebounds.
The Vikings shot 40 percent (32 of 80) in the contest, but used the SMSU turnovers to hold a 39-9 advantage on points off of turnovers.
SMSU started the game strong jumping to an early 11-3 lead following a layup by Amaun Frazier with 15 minutes and 25 seconds on the clock.
The Mustangs would maintain the lead and built a 21-14 advantage with 7:26 remaining after a field goal by Ellen Degler. The Vikings would slowly cut into the lead and took just its second lead of the half with 4:38 left at 26-25 following a 3-pointer by Allie Koehn.
The teams would exchange the lead over the next four minutes before the Vikings closed the half with a buzzer-beating field goal to take a 34-33 halftime lead.
Frazier led the Mustangs with seven points on 3 of 3 shooting in the opening half. SMSU shot 52 percent in the first half and held a 24-11 rebound advantage, but committed 12 turnovers, leading to 13 Augustana points.
The Vikings opened the second half with the big 22-2 run to build a 56-35 advantage with 12:58 remaining and never looked back in wining for the sixth time in their last seven games.
Southwest Minnesota State concludes its four-game road trip tomorrow night taking on NSIC South Division leader and No. 19 Wayne State starting at 4 p.m.
