BOXSCORE MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg College women's basketball team dropped its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference-opener to a hot shooting Gustavus Adolphus College team, falling 63-52 on Wednesday night at Si Melby Hall.

Augsburg (2-1 overall, 0-1 MIAC) was led by a career-high night from Jolene Blood (JR, Mounds View, Minn./Irondale HS). Blood finished with 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting, including 6-of-9 from beyond the three-point arc, adding four rebounds and a pair of assists. Jill Tichy (JR, Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka HS) added five points and four boards, while Abbey Luger (SO, Oakdale, Minn./North St. Paul HS) posted a team-high five rebounds and added a career-high four assists.

Gustavus (2-2 overall, 1-0 MIAC) was led offensively by the duo of Abby Rothenbuehler and Britta Rinke. Rothenbuehler posted a game-high 23 points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots, while Rinke scored 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor. Kelsey Florian also had a solid night for the Gusties, posting a game-high seven assists, while adding 10 points and four rebounds.

There were six ties and six lead changes in a very physical and competitive first half. Augsburg used a key 8-0 run over a 2:10 span, which included a pair of three-pointers by Blood, to extend the Auggie lead to 16-10. The Gusties countered with an 8-0 run of their own to tie things up with 6:33 to play. The two teams battled for the final five minutes and Augsburg took a 25-23 lead into the lockerroom at the intermission.

The first 10 minutes of the second half remained close, as Gustavus led 44-40 with 10:06 to play. The Gusties proceeded to put together a 15-0 run to go up 59-40 with just over five minutes remaining. Augsburg was able to outscore Gustavus 12-4 over the final five minutes, but the Auggie comeback ran out of time as the Gusties hung on for the 63-52 win.

For the game, Augsburg shot 31.3 percent (21-of-67) from the field, while the Gusties converted on 54.5 percent (24-of-44) of their shots. Gustavus claimed a 40-34 advantage on the boards but Augsburg won the turnover battle forcing 19, while only committing 12 and the Auggies claimed a 10-3 advantage in second chance points.

Augsburg returns to action on Saturday (12/1) when it hosts Concordia College-Moorhead in a men's and women's doubleheader. Women's action begins at 1 p.m. with the men scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m.