Box Score
In an offensive struggle, the Augustana women’s basketball team outlasted the Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears 69-63 Saturday night in the Elmen Center to earn their sixth Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win in a row.
The Vikings also remain perfect at 9-0 at home this season while improving to 15-4 overall and 9-3 in the NSIC.
In the closing moments of the game
Megan Doyle went 4 of 4 from the free throw line to finish off the Golden Bears and cap her fourth game of the season with over 20 points, finishing with a game high 23 points.
The Golden Bears (13-9, 5-7 NSIC) held their biggest lead of the second half at 56-51 with 7:18 left in the game, but Augstana regained the lead back with 5:12 left to play at 57-56 and held Concordia to just 4 points in the next 4:48 to close out the game.
Both teams struggled offensively throughout the game and it was evident in the beginning as Augustana missed their first 4 shots of the game and did not make their first field goal until the 16:11 mark.
The Vikings continued to struggle in the early going, making just 4 of 18 shots to start the game, while finding themselves down 20-12 with 10 minutes to go in the half.
But that was as far as the Vikings let the Golden Bears push, as Augie put together a 13-2 run in the next 6 minutes to earn their first lead of the game at 25-22 with 4:16 left in the half.
Despite low shooting numbers, the Vikings went into halftime tied for the first time this season with the score at 32-32.
The Vikings went on a 6-0 run to start the second half, but could not keep the momentum going as Concordia put together an 11-2 run in the next 1:38 to take the lead at 43-40.
Concordia held on to the lead for the majority of the half as both teams battled back and forth through 3 lead changes and 3 ties.
Augustana finished the night shooting 35 percent from the field on 21 of 60, while struggling from the 3-point line, making just 1 of 15 shots.
The Vikings held the Golden Bears to 35.5 percent on 22 of 62 shooting and 33 percent from the 3-points line.
Three Augie players finished the night in double figures as
Whitney Hofer finished the night with 15 points and 8 rebounds, while
Amy Puthoff recorded her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Tessa Wilka had a solid night off the bench with 6 points and a career high in rebounds with 5 and blocks with 2.
Candace Olstad topped all Concordia scorers with 19 points, while adding a team high 9 rebounds.
The Vikings will continue their home stand with the St. Cloud State Huskies at 6 p.m. Saturday night in the Elmen Center.