BOXSCORE ARDEN HILLS, Minn. -- After trailing by 11 points at the half, the Augsburg College women's basketball team tied the game with under a minute and a half to play but the Auggies couldn't complete the comeback as MIAC leader Saint Mary's University hung on for a 54-51 victory in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Monday night at Si Melby Hall.

Augsburg (7-6 overall, 4-6 MIAC) was led by Marie Fitzgerald (SO, Fort Atkinson, Wis./Fort Atkinson HS), who recorded her second double digit performance of the season, posting 15 points and seven rebounds. Also scoring in double figures for the Auggies were Jessica Lillquist (SO, Sebeka, Minn.) and Jill Tichy (SR, Excelsior, Minn./Minnetonka HS). Lillquist finished with 14 points and seven rebounds on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor, while Tichy posted 11 points and three rebounds. Bridget Kopp (SO, St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall HS) led all players with four blocked shots.

Saint Mary's (13-1 overall, 10-1 MIAC) was led by Courtney Euerle, who scored a game-high 20 points with 6 rebounds and three blocked shots. Emma Schaefer came off the bench to score 11 points for the Cardinals.

The two teams traded baskets for the opening minutes of action but St. Mary's went on key a 10-0 run to claim an 18-8 lead with just under eight minutes to play in the first half. The Cardinals stretched their lead to as many as 13 before taking a 31-20 lead into the locker room at the intermission. Augsburg chipped away at the St. Mary's lead and cut advantage to 41-40 with just over seven minutes to play. Augsburg was able to tie the game three times in the final five minutes of action but could never quite regain the lead as the Cardinals hung on for the 54-51 victory.

For the game, Augsburg shot 33.3 percent (19-of-57) from the field, while St. Mary's connected on 40.0 percent (18-of-45) of its shots. The Auggies and Cardinals finished with an identical 36 rebounds, but St. Mary's was able to take advantage of 15 Augsburg turnovers which it converted into 21 points, while the Auggies were only able to score 10 points off 16 St. Mary's turnovers.

Augsburg returns to MIAC play on Wednesday (1/22) at 7:30 p.m., hosting MIAC foe St. Thomas at Si Melby Hall, while the Cardinals host Bethel University in an attempt to avenge their lone loss of the season.