Women's Basketball 2/14/09 -- Bethel 61, Augsburg 36

MINNEAPOLIS (2/14/09) -- Serenae Levine (FY, Eden Prairie, Minn.) led Augsburg College with a game-high 17 points, but it wasn't enough as the Auggies dropped a 61-36 Minnesota Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball game to rival Bethel University on Saturday afternoon at Augsburg's Si Melby Hall.

Augsburg (4-19 overall, 2-18 MIAC) was led by Levine's 17 points, five rebounds and three assists. Also playing well for the Auggies was Christa Suedbeck (SR, Hugo, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) and Michelle Richter (SR, Chaska, Minn.). Suedbeck recorded a game-high 13 rebounds and nine points, while Richter added 10 rebounds, four steals and three points.

Bethel (13-10 overall, 12-8 MIAC) was led by the duo of Annegret Nautsch (SR, Everett, Wash./Sioux Falls) and Kristen Wolters (JR, St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Tech), who both posted 12-point, seven-rebound efforts. Teammate Taylor Sheley (FY, Backus, Minn./Pine River-Backus) recorded a game-high eight steals.

The Auggies struggled offensively to find their rhythm due to the aggressive Bethel defense. Augsburg was only able to convert on 22.1 percent (12-of-57) from the floor, while Bethel shot 38.2 percent (21-of-55). The Royals outrebounded the Auggies 47-37 and were able to force 29 Augsburg turnovers.

The Auggies return to action on Wednesday (2/18) at 7:30 p.m., when they travel to Northfield to take on MIAC foe Carleton College.