Box Score

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 5 ranked Augustana University limited Southwest Minnesota State to 29 percent shooting in earning a 77-58 victory in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball on Saturday at the Sioux Falls Arena.
 
Augustana, which suffered just its second loss of the season on Friday night to Sioux Falls, improves to 22-2 overall, 18-2 NSIC. The Vikings have now won 21 of the last 23 meetings since the 2004-05 season.
 
Caleigh Rodning paced the Mustangs (5-18, 4-16 NSIC) with 19 points and 10 rebounds. She made 17 of 20 from the free throw, tying a school single-game record for attempts in a game. The 17 free throws made was one shy of tying the school record. It was Rodning's fifth double-double of the season and 15^th in her career.
 
Erin Baxter scored 16 points with three 3-pointers for SMSU, while Abuk Akoi scored seven points, grabbed 10 rebounds and recorded five blocked shots.
 
SMSU finished the game making 14 of 49 shots from the field, including 5 of 21 from 3-point range. SMSU did connect on 25 of 31 from the free throw and held a 45-41 rebound advantage, but committed 26 turnovers, its second highest total this season.
 
Augustana used a balanced scoring attack with Shelby Selland coming off the bench to score 18 points on 8 of 16 shooting, while grabbing a team-high seven rebounds.
 
The Vikings shot 36 percent (28 of 78) from the field and made 10 of 30 3-pointers.
 
SMSU struggled to begin the game, making just one of its first nine shot attempts, and trailed 11-2 in the opening six and a half minutes.
 
SMSU slowly chipped into the lead and cut the deficit to 16-13 with 1:10 left in the quarter behind a jumper and 3-pointer from Erin Baxter.
 
Augustana held a 19-13 lead after one quarter of play before a strong defensive effort in the second quarter. SMSU was limited to just 1 of 12 shooting in the quarter as the Vikings pulled away to build a 32-17 lead at the break.
 
SMSU closed the opening half shooting 21 percent (6 of 28) from the field, including 2 of 14 from 3-point range. The Mustangs committed 16 turnovers in the half, which led to a 16-0 scoring advantage for the Vikings.
 
Augustana built a 17-point lead, 39-22 with 7:30 left in the third, before SMSU used an 8-2 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer by Sadie Stelter to cut the margin to 41-30 at the 4:06 mark.
 
SMSU wouldn't go away and later made the score 65-54 with 4:25 left in the game following a three-point play by Akoi. Augustana had an answer for the Mustang run, quickly responding with seven straight points to put the game away.
 
Southwest Minnesota State closes out the regular season next Friday and Saturday hosting Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul. SMSU and MSU will tip-off on Friday night at 6 p.m.