Women's Basketball 11/18/05 -- Augsburg 88, Alverno (Wis.) 55

BOXSCORE

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (11/18/05) -- Rosinta Stromquist (Sr., Brooklyn Park, Minn./Robbinsdale Cooper HS) scored 17 points and pulled down five rebounds, one of five Augsburg College players to score in double figures, as the Auggies opened their season with an 88-55 victory over host Alverno College (Wis.) in the Alverno Tip-Off Classic on Friday evening.

Augsburg jumped out to a 26-6 lead in the first 11 minutes of play and never trailed, leading 40-24 at halftime. The 16-point margin was the closest the host Inferno could reach the rest of the way, as Augsburg led by as many as 38 points down the stretch.

Augsburg shot 50 percent (34-of-68) from the field, while Alverno was limited to just 25.8 percent (17-of-66). Augsburg outrebounded Alverno by a 54-46 margin and took advantage of 28 Alverno turnovers, scoring 23 points off the miscues.

Rachel Cherry (Sr., Rosemount, Minn.) scored 13 points and had five rebounds, Michelle Richter (Fr., Chaska, Minn.) had 10 points, four assists and a team-high seven rebounds. Kristina Lurken (So., Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo HS) scored 11 points with six assists and five rebounds. Katie LaGrave (So., Okinawa, Japan/Kadena HS) had 11 points, four assists and two blocks. Alissa Blood (Jr., Mounds View, Minn.) had seven points, six rebounds and two blocks.

All 12 Augsburg players saw time in the game, and 10 players scored. The 88 points is the most scored by an Augsburg women's basketball squad since a 90-89, three-overtime win over St. Olaf on Jan. 15, 2001. It is the most points scored in a regulation game since a 93-61 win over St. Catherine on Jan. 6, 1999.

Alverno was led by Sara Hegg, who scored 17 points and had eight rebounds. Joslyn Binkowski scored nine points and had five rebounds.

Augsburg plays in the tournament final on Saturday (11/19) at 3 p.m.