Women's Basketball 12/6/08 -- St. Thomas 52, Augsburg 47
MINNEAPOLIS (12/8/08) -- Augsburg College used a 7-2 run late in the second half to cut the University of St. Thomas lead down to one point with 2:57 left on the clock, but the Auggies were unable to convert on their final possessions of the game, as St. Thomas claimed a 52-47 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's basketball victory over Augsburg on Monday night at Augsburg's Si Melby Hall.
For the second consecutive game, Augsburg (2-4 overall, 0-3 MIAC) was led by Michelle Richter (SR, Chaska, Minn.). Richter collected her first double-double of the season, recording 11 points and 13 rebounds. Christa Suedbeck (SR, Hugo, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) also finished in double-digits for the Auggies on the boards, pulling down 10 rebounds and chipping in eight points.
St. Thomas (4-2 overall, 3-1 MIAC) was led by Jessica Katch (SR, Urbandale, Iowa/Dowling HS) and Andi Olson (JR, Jordan, Minn.). Katch scored a game-high 14 points, while Olson chipped in 11 points and five rebounds.
In an evenly matched first half of basketball, the largest lead for either team was a six-point advantage for St. Thomas at the 11:29 mark. The Auggies aggressively attacked the basket, creating 15 free-throw opportunities in the first half, compared to only two for the Tommies. Converting on 10-15 free-throws, Augsburg was able to go to the locker room down 21-20.
The Auggies used jumpers by Jacci Mattern (SR, Lakeville, Minn.) and Shannon Renne (SO, Nicollet, Minn.) to regain the lead at the 17:44 mark. St. Thomas built its lead to as many as nine before the Auggies could battle back within one off a jumper by Richter with just under three minutes to play. St. Thomas converted on some key free-throws down the stretch as Augsburg was unable to regain the lead.
For the game, Augsburg shot 26.7 percent (16-of-60) from the field and forced 21 St. Thomas turnovers. The Tommies shot 31.7 percent (19-of-60) from the field and forced 25 Augsburg turnovers. The Auggies outscored the Tommies in second-chance points by a 10-5 margin, but were outscored 20-9 in points off turnovers and 23-6 in bench points.
Augsburg returns to action on Wednesday (12/10) at 7:30 p.m., when it hosts Gustavus Adolphus College at Si Melby Hall.
