Women's Basketball 12/10/08 -- Gustavus 61, Augsburg 59
MINNEAPOLIS (12/10/08) -- The Augsburg College women's basketball team dropped a 61-59 heartbreaker to Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Wednesday night at Augsburg's Si Melby Hall.
The Auggies were able to pull within two off a layup by Christa Suedbeck (SR, Hugo, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) with 11 seconds left in the game, but were not able tie things up as the Gusties grabbed the narrow victory. Augsburg (2-5 overall, 0-4 MIAC) was led by Serenae Levine (FY, Eden Prairie, Minn.) who led all scorers with 15 points and five assists. Suedbeck recorded her third double-double of the season, recording 14 points and 14 rebounds.
Gustavus (6-0 overall, 4-0 MIAC) had four players score in double figures. Leading the way was Brianna Radtke with an 11-point, four-rebound effort. Julia Schulz, Molly Geske and Molly Mathiowetz each chipped in 10 points for the Gusties.
After the Gusties scored the first five points of the game, Augsburg came storming back on a 7-0 run sparked by five consecutive points from Shannon Renne (SO, Nicollet, Minn.). The game would be tied four more times over the next three minutes before Gustavus would go on a 21-4 run, building a 17-point lead that they would take into the locker room at 36-19.
Augsburg came out playing aggressively in the second half, forcing 12 Gustavus turnovers and shooting an impressive 63.3 percent (19-of-30) from the field, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Augsburg outscored Gustavus 40-25 in the second half and was sparked by key relief minutes from Ashley Thoeny (JR, Golden Valley, Minn./Hopkins HS) who converted on an impressive pick-and-roll play at the 4:39 mark to bring the score within five. The Auggies converted on a layup by Suedbeck with 11 seconds left, but were not able to come away with the victory.
For the game, Augsburg shot a season-high 47.4 percent (27-of-57) from the field and forced 18 Gustavus turnovers. The Gusties shot 41.9 percent (18-of-43) from the field and forced 23 Augsburg turnovers. The Auggies outscored the Gusties in points in the paint 36-20, but the difference in the game came down to the free-throw line, as Gustavus converted on 22-of-28, while the Auggies where only able to get to the free-throw line six times, and converted on only two attempts.
Augsburg will be off for the holiday break and will return to action on Jan. 3 at 1 p.m., when it travels to Northfield to take on St. Olaf College.
