Women's Basketball 1/31/05 -- Carleton 75, Augsburg 49

BOXSCORE

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (1/31/05) -- Megan Vig (Jr., Northfield, Minn.) scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds and No. 19 Carleton College used a 25-9 run spanning halftime to beat visiting Augsburg College, 75-49, in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball game on Monday night at Carleton's West Gym.

Kari Christianson (Jr., Twin Valley, Minn./Norman Co. East HS) and Andrea Dahl (So., Maple Grove, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) added 10 points and six rebounds each for Carleton (14-3 overall, 14-0 MIAC), who clinched a MIAC playoff bid with the win. It marked the Knights' 14th straight overall victory and 24th consecutive home game win.

Rachel Cherry (Jr., Rosemount, Minn.) scored 12 points, all in the first half, and led the Auggies (2-15 overall, 2-12 MIAC) with seven rebounds and three assists. Katie LaGrave (Fr., Okinawa, Japan/Kadena HS) had nine points and five rebounds, and Kristina Lurken (Fr., Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo HS) and Katie Kelsey (Sr., Burnsville, Minn.) had eight points apiece. Lurken added six rebounds.

The Auggies hung tough early, taking an early 7-2 lead before the Knights used a 17-6 run to break open a 19-13 lead. The Auggies pulled within four, 24-20, on a Cherry three-point play, but the Knights finished the half on a 16-7 spurt, taking a 40-27 halftime lead.

Vig caught fire early in the second half, scoring six of Carleton's first eight points as the Knights extended the lead to 49-29 two minutes into the second half. Carleton coach Tammy Metcalf-Filzen was able to substitute freely over the final 10 minutes, as no starter played more than 23 minutes.

Carleton shot 45 percent from the floor and committed a season-low 10 turnovers, holding an 18-5 edge in points off turnovers. Carleton outscored the Auggies 12-4 from the free-throw line as well. Augsburg was limited to 28.8 percent (19-of-66) shooting from the field.

Carleton returns to action on Wednesday (2/2), traveling to St. Peter, Minn., to face Gustavus Adolphus College at 7:30 p.m. Augsburg also is in action on Wednesday, playing at St. Thomas at 5:30 p.m. as part of a basketball doubleheader.