BOXSCORE ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Augsburg College women's basketball team fell 56-40 to the University of St. Thomas in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season-opener for both teams. With the win, the Tommies move to 3-1 overall (1-0 MIAC), while the Auggies suffered their first loss of the season, falling to 2-1 overall (0-1 MIAC).

The two teams played a nearly identical first half of basketball and were tied at 20-20 with less then a minute to play. A pair of St. Thomas free throws with four seconds remaining gave the Tommies a 22-20 advantage heading into the locker room at the intermission. The teams traded baskets for the opeing four minutes of the second-half before St. Thomas was able to put together a 17-3 run over at 6:15 span which gave them a 43-28 lead with 10:07 left to play. The big run proved to be too much for the Auggies to overcome as St. Thomas cruised on to the 56-40 victory.

Augsburg was led offensively by Jessica Lillquist (SO,  Sebeka, Minn./Sebeka HS), who tied a career-high with 12 points, while adding a pair of rebounds and an assist. Also finishing in double figures for the Auggies was Jill Tichy (SR, Excelsior, Minn./Minnetonka HS), who added 10 points and a pair of steals. Jenna Orth (SO, Melrose, Minn./Melrose HS) led the team on the boards, finishing with five, while adding two points and a pair of assists.

St. Thomas, who is ranked No. 10 in the latest D3hoops.com national poll, finished with two players in double figures, led by Kelly Brandenburg (SR, Brookfield, Wis./Divine Savior), who posted a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double, her first of double-double of the season.

For the game, Augsburg was held to a season-low 30.6 percent from the floor, while St. Thomas was able to hit 38.8 percent of its shots. The Auggies claimed the advantage in the turnover battle, forcing 16, while only committing 11, but the Tommies claimed a 43-25 advantage on the boards.

Augsburg and St. Thomas both return to action on Saturday, Dec. 7. The Auggies will hosts a men's and women's doubleheader against St. Olaf College with women's action scheduled to start at 1 p.m. while the men tip off at 3 p.m. The Tommies will make the short trip across town to take on St. Catherine University -- game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.