Women's Basketball 1/9/02 -- St. Benedict 82, Augsburg 47 

BOXSCORE

MINNEAPOLIS (1/9/02) -- Hitting three of its first four 3-point shots to take a 12-4 lead in the first 3:30 of play, the College of St. Benedict led from start to finish in an easy 82-47 victory over host Augsburg College in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball game Wednesday night at Augsburg's Si Melby Hall.

All 15 Blazers who dressed saw playing time and 12 players scored as the Blazers improved to 10-2 overall and 7-2 in MIAC play. Augsburg drops to 4-8 overall and 3-6 in MIAC play.

After the initial 12-4 scoring run, the Auggies cut the lead to four points, 14-10. But after that, the St. Benedict lead never dipped below six points the rest of the way. The Blazers led 41-19 at halftime, and led by as many as 39 points in the second half.

St. Benedict connected on 8-of-21 three-pointers (38.1 percent) and hit 46.8 percent from the field (46.8 percent) in the game. Augsburg was limited to 22.2 percent (2-of-9) shooting from beyond the arc and just 34.5 percent (19-of-55) from the field. Augsburg also continued its season-long struggles from the free-throw line, hitting just 7-of-21 (33.3 percent).

Michelle Barlau (Jr., Northfield, Minn.) and Leah Laurich (So., Sartell, Minn.) led the Blazers with 12 points apiece, with Barlau adding four assists and five rebounds. Danni Hannon (Jr., St. Louis Park, Minn.) scored 11 points with a team-high eight rebounds and four assists. Heather Isaackson (Fr., Cottonwood, Minn./Lakeview HS) had 10 points.

The Auggies had no players score in double figures, as 10 players scored in the game after the result was decided early. Megan Wetzell (So., Wells, Minn./United South Central HS) came off the bench to lead the Auggies with eight points and four rebounds, while Kelly Chapman (So., Willernie, Minn./Mahtomedi HS) scored seven points and five rebounds.

St. Benedict also took advantage of 23 Augsburg turnovers, converting 27 points off of the turnovers in the game. Meanwhile, Augsburg converted 10 points off of 19 St. Benedict turnovers.

Both teams return to MIAC action on Saturday (1/12) at 3 p.m., Augsburg playing at St. Olaf and St. Benedict hosting Hamline.