Women's Basketball 1/9/08 -- St. Thomas 66, Augsburg 54
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ST. PAUL, Minn. (1/9/08) -- Senior forward Carrie Embree had 21 points, 15 rebounds, five steals and three blocks to lead the host University of St. Thomas to a 66-54 win over Augsburg College in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball play Wednesday at UST's Schoenecker Arena.
Embree had nine points in a game-closing 17-6 run for the Tommies (7-3 overall, 6-1 MIAC), who moved into sole possession of first place in the conference. St. Thomas has won four in a row and 14 of their last 17 games vs. MIAC competition.
Katie LaGrave * (SR, Okinawa, Japan/Kadena HS) had 16 points with six rebounds, and Christa Suedbeck (JR, Hugo, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) added 11 points and eight rebounds for Augsburg (4-6 overall, 2-5 MIAC). The Auggies have now lost 23 games in a row at Schoenecker Arena.
Shannon Renne (FY, Nicollet, Minn.) scored 11 points for the Auggies, while Kristina Lurken * (SR, Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo HS) had 10 rebounds, six assists and two steals, to go along with four points. Michelle Richter (JR, Chaska, Minn.) had seven rebounds and three assists, also scoriong four points.
UST's Andi Olson scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half, and Sheena Porter-Wrzos added 11 points and five assists.
UST survived a 1-for-15 shooting game by leading scorer Jessica Katch, who still managed seven points, eight rebounds and three blocks. The Tommie pressure defense netted 10 blocks and 16 steals and helped force 24 turnovers and helped hold Augsburg to 34 percent shooting from the field (19-of-56).
St. Thomas led 34-27 at halftime and puched the margin to 10. But LaGrave hit three 3-pointers to fuel a 13-4 run that pulled Augsburg within 49-48 with 7:24 to play. Olson sank four free throws to start a decisive 10-2 Tommie run. UST outrebounded Augsburg 47-39.
Both teams return to MIAC play on Saturday (1/12). Augsburg hosts St. Benedict at 3 p.m. at Si Melby Hall, while St. Thomas plays at Gustavus at 1 p.m.
