ST. PAUL, Minn.. -- Maria Loughlin (SR, Rogers, Minn.) scored an Auggie career-high 20 points, leading the Augsburg College women's basketball team to an important Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over Hamline University on Wednesday evening at Hutton Arena.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 61, Hamline 49
LOCATION: Hutton Arena, St. Paul, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 6-6 overall (1-4 MIAC), Hamline 3-9 overall (1-4 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Augsburg used its second-best shooting performance of the season -- a 48.9 percent effort from the field -- to record its first MIAC victory of the season. The Auggies also had their best free-throw shooting performance of the season, a 90.9-percent (10-of-11) effort.
• The Auggies jumped out to an early 19-10 lead after the first quarter and never looked back as they cruised onto the important MIAC victory.
• Augsburg was led offensively by Loughlin, who posted a game- and career-high 20 points, including a 6-of-9 performace from three-point range. The six 3-pointers are tied for fourth-best in single-game history, while the 6-of-9 shooting percentage from three-point range is also tied for fourth best in a single game in school history.
• Also scoring in double figures for the Auggies was Jessica Lillquist (SR, Sebeka, Minn.), who posted 12 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting performance.
• Allison McKee (SR, New Brighton, Minn./Mounds View HS), Hannah Steinhaus (SO, Waterville, Minn./Waterville-Elysian-Morristown HS) and Marie Fitzgerald (Fort Atkinson, Wis.), posted six rebounds apiece to lead the Auggies on the boards.
• For the game, Augsburg shot 48.9 percent (22-of-45) from the floor, while holding Hamline to 37.3 percent (22-of-59) shooting. Augsburg was able to connect on 10-of-11 from the free-throw line, while limiting Hamline to 0-for-1 from the charity stripe.

FOR THE FOES
• Hamline was led offensively by Chloe Graves, who finihsed with 16 points, on 7-of-13 shooting from the floor.
• Allison Bartak led the Pipers on the boards, posting seven rebounds, while adding two steals and a blocked shot.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg will will return to action on Saturday (1/9) when the Auggies host Carleton at 3 p.m.
• Hamline also returns to action on Saturday (1/9) at 3 p.m., when the Pipers host Gustavus.