Women's Basketball 2/21/09 -- Augsburg 52, St. Mary's 49

WINONA, Minn. (2/21/09) -- Serenae Levine (FY, Eden Prairie, Minn.) led Augsburg College with a team-high 21 points, as the Auggies claimed a 52-48 Minnesota Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball season-ending victory over St. Mary's University on Saturday afternoon at SMU's Field House.

Augsburg (5-20 overall, 3-19 MIAC) was led by Levine's 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Christa Suedbeck (SR, Hugo, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) also had a solid afternoon of the Auggies, finishing her Augsburg career with a 12-point, 13-rebound, two-blocked-shot effort. Suedbeck finished her Augsburg career as the career blocked shots leader in school history with 113 blocks.

Also finishing in double figures for the Auggies was Lexi Thompson (FY, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS), who posted 11 points and seven rebounds. Michelle Richter (SR, Chaska, Minn.) led the Auggies defensively with three steals, seven rebounds and six points. Richter finished her Augsburg career with 169 career steals, ranking her sixth all-time. Richter also finished sixth all-time in free-throw percentage (.764).

St. Mary's (4-21 overall, 4-18 MIAC) was led by Jess Miller (SO, Carver, Minn./Chaska HS), who recorded 15 points, two steals and two assists. Also scoring in double figures for the Cardinals was Jesa Hall (SO, Glenwood City, Wis.) and Cherie Kulig (SO, Independence, Wis.), who scored 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Augsburg recorded two blocked shots in the opening two minutes and took a 4-0 lead to start the game. The two teams battled back and forth for the next few minutes, until Thompson nailed a three-pointer at the 11:34 mark to give the Auggies a 16-10 lead and the momentum. The Augsburg defense played well in the remainder of the half and the Auggies took a 23-19 lead into the locker room.

Augsburg started the second half on an 8-0 run, with Suedbeck and Levine each connecting on a pair of baskets. St. Mary's rallied back to tie things up at 36-36 with 11:50 left to play. The Cardinals continued their run and built up a 44-37 lead before the Auggies could answer back with a 10-0 run to regain the lead at 48-44. The Auggie defense was able to hold St. Mary's scoreless over the final 1:50 as Augsburg hung on to sweep the season series over the Cardinals.