BOXSCORE MINNEAPOLIS -- Jessica Lillquist (SO, Sebeka, Minn.) scored 18 points to lead the Augsburg College women's basketball team but it wasn't enought as the Auggies fell 68-53 to Bethel University in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Si Melby Hall.

Augsburg (11-12 overall, 8-12 MIAC) was led by Lillquist's 18 points and six rebounds. The scoring effort marked back-to-back double digit campaigns for Lillquist and her 12th game this season with 10 or more points. Also scoring in double figures for the Auggies was Abbey Luger (JR, Oakdale, Minn./North St. Paul HS), who came off the bench to score 10 points, six rebounds and tied a season-best with seven assists.

Bethel (17-6 overall, 15-5 MIAC) finished with two players in double figures led by Kalli Zimmermann, who finished with 25 points on 6-of-9 shooting shooting from the floor and a 12-for-15 afternoon at the free throw line.

The Auggies jumped out to a quick 13-2 lead and dominated the majority of first half of play, shooting 50.0 percent (15-of-30) from the field and leading by as many as 11. Bethel made a late rally but Augsburg was able to maintain a 37-33 lead at the intermission. 

The two teams were tied at 45-45 with 13:17 to play but Bethel went on a 14-4 run to grab its first double digit lead of the afternoon. The Royals turned up the defensive pressure and held Augsburg without a field goal for the final seven minutes as the Royals went on to earn the 68-53 victory.

For the game, Augsburg shot 37.5 percent (21-of-56) from the field, while Bethel converted on 52.4 percent (22-of-42) of its shots. The Royals claimed a 36-26 advantage on the boards and Bethel was able to outscore Augsburg 32-14 in points in the paint. Augsburg was able to claim a 14-6 advantage in second chance points but was outscored 22-13 in bench points.

Augsburg will play its final two games of the regular season on the road, traveling to Northfield, Minn. on Feb. 19 to take on Carleton College and making the trip to Winona, Minn. to close out the season with a game against league leading Saint Mary's on Feb. 22.