Women's Basketball 1/5/08 -- Hamline 98, Augsburg 70

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ST. PAUL, Minn. (1/5/08) -- Jessica Heinen (JR, Spicer, Minn.) scored 23 points and shot 10-for-13 from the free throw line to lead Hamline University past Augsburg College in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon at Hutton Arena.

Augsburg was led by Melanie Wigen (FY, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley HS), who had 22 points in the game. Christa Suedbeck (JR, Hugo, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) scored 11 points with six rebounds and six blocked shots, and Kristina Lurken * (SR, Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo HS) scored 10 points with four assists. Katie LaGrave * (SR, Okinawa, Japan/Kadena HS) scored eight points.

The Auggies and Pipers played a close opening half, trading one and two-point leads in the first half until the final five minutes of play before the break. At 5:01 remaining, Tiana Wilkinson's (SO, St. Louis Park, Minn.) jumper kicked off a Piper 10-point run to put the hosts up 37-27 with less than two minutes to play in the half.

A series of free throws by Heinen, and a three-pointer by Grace Weinreich (JR, Wahkon, Minn.) with half a minute to play gave Hamline a 16-point halftime lead at 45-29. The Pipers held on to that momentum in the second half, never allowing the Auggies to close the gap to less than 14 points.

Mary Wilkowski (FY, Savannah, Ga.) added 18 points in the win, while Krystal Tschumperlin (JR, Watkins, Minn.) was the third Piper in double-digits with 11 points.

The Pipers improved to 6-2 overall, 3-2 in MIAC play, while the Auggies fell to 4-4 overall, 2-3 in MIAC play . Hamline remains at home to host Carelton College at 5:45 p.m. on Monday (1/7). Augsburg will travel to face Macalester on Monday at 5:45 p.m. at St. Catherine.