BBox Score

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team rallied to trail by nine points early in the fourth quarter, but fell short in a 74-62 loss to Augustana University on Sunday.

SMSU (3-11, 1-7 NSIC) finished shooting 36.1 percent on 22 of 61 attempts from the field, including scoring on 12 of 17 from the free-throw line. Augustana (11-3, 5-3 NSIC) shot 36.8 percent from the floor, including 32.4 percent (11 of 34) from 3-point range and 86.7 percent (13 of 15) from the charity stripe.

Hope Bonlander led all scorers with 21 total points on 8 of 12 shooting for her third time this season scoring over 20 points and grabbed double-digit rebounds to record her first double-double of her career. Lauren Hedlund scored 10 points on 3 of 12 shooting and 4 of 7 from the foul line and also grabbed double-digit rebounds to earn her third double-double of her career. Taylor Silva added to the offense scoring nine points.

Bonlander and Hedlund both led SMSU with 11 rebounds as it held a 42-40 rebound advantage. Augustana capitalized on 25 Mustang turnovers as it scored 29 poitns on takeaway. The Vikings also played a fast pace game as they scored 29 fast-break points.

SMSU jump out to an early 7-2 lead but Augustana went on a 17-2 run to grab a 19-9 lead with 1:44 left in the first quarter. SMSU's Laurie Bohler hit back-to-back 3-pointers to close the quarter to help the Mustangs trail by four, 19-15.

In the second quarter, the Vikings responded with back-to-back 3-pointers to give them a 10-point lead with 8:34 left to play in the first half. Augustana built its largest lead of the game after going on an 11-2 run over the last 3:54 of the half to lead 46-26 at the break.

SMSU finished shooting 30 percent in the half making 9 of 30 attempts, included shooting 42.9 percent from 3-point range on 6 of 14 shooting. Augustana shot 44.1 percent from the field on 15 of 34 attempts, while hitting 9 of 17 shots from behind the arc.

Bohler led the Mustangs at the break with six points making 2 of 3 from 3-point range. Hope Bonlander added to the offense making five points on 2 of 3 attempts from the field, including a 3-pointer.

After the break, SMSU started with energy as it put together an 8-2 run over the beginning 4:39 to trail 48-34. Augustana kept its double-digit lead going down the quarter stretch as it led 59-45 after three quarters.

SMSU trailed by 14 with 8:51 left to play, but went on a 7-2 run to cut the Viking lead to nine with 7:45 left. Both teams struggled to score in the final five minutes as Augustana went on to earn a 74-62 victory.

Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball will return home to play Upper Iowa and Winona State next weekend.