Women's Basketball 1/14/09 -- Carleton 67, Augsburg 55
MINNEAPOLIS (1/14/09) -- Augsburg College dropped a 67-55 Minnesota Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball game to rival Carleton College on Wednesday night at Si Melby Hall.
Augsburg (2-10 overall, 0-9 MIAC) was led by Serenae Levine (FY, Eden Prairie, Minn.), who scored a team-high 15 points on a 7-for-11 shooting performance. Levine also chipped in five rebounds and tied a season high with seven assists. Anchoring the Auggie defense was Michelle Richter (SR, Chaska, Minn.), who posted a game-high five steals and scored eight points and four rebounds. Providing a spark for the Auggies off the bench was Sigrid Casey (FY, Chisholm, Minn.), who led Augsburg in rebounding with seven, while adding seven points, two steals and an assist.
Carleton (5-7 overall, 4-5 MIAC) was led by Sarah Lincoln (SR, Rockford, Minn.), who was the lone player of the evening to post a double-double. Lincoln posted a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds. Also scoring in double figures for the Knights was Sarah Kunelius (SR, Eagan, Minn.), who recorded 10 points, four rebounds and two blocked shots.
Carleton went on an 11-2 run to start the game, as the Auggies struggled to find their rhythm offensively against a tough Carleton zone defense. Augsburg cut the lead to eight off a three-pointer by Casey at the 8:32 mark, but Carleton answered back with a three-pointer on the very next possession. A jumper by Christa Suedbeck (SR, Hugo, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) with 56 seconds left in the half left the Auggies trailing by nine, but the Knights were able to convert three free throws with no time left on the clock, taking a 12-point lead into the locker room at the intermission.
The Knights went on a 10-0 run to start the second half before the Auggies could connect on a three-pointer by Lexi Thompson (FY, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS). Carleton continued to build their lead until the seven-minute mark when the Auggies started to click. Augsburg outscored Carleton 20-7 over the final seven minutes and started to its offensive rhythm. Augsburg cut the Carleton lead to 12, but couldn't get any closer as the Knights claimed the victory.
Augsburg shot 36.4 percent (24-for-66) for the game, while the Knights shot 43.8 percent (21-of-48) from the field. The Auggies forced 21 Carleton turnovers while committing a season-low 12. Augsburg was outrebounded 41-31 and was only able to convert on 2-of-6 from the free throw line, while the Knights converted on 17-of-20.
Augsburg returns to action on Saturday (1/17), when it travels to Bethel University for a men's and women's doubleheader. Women's action begins at 1 p.m. and the men tip off at 3 p.m.
