MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg College women's basketball team dropped a heartbreaking 81-79 loss to rival Saint Mary's University in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Wednesday night at Si Melby Hall.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Saint Mary's 81, Augsburg 79
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Saint Mary's 11-3 overall (5-2 MIAC); Augsburg 8-6 overall (1-6 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Augsburg claimed its largest lead of the game, a 74-66 advantage with 5:41 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Saint Mary's used a 10-2 run to tie the game 76-76 with 1:32 remaining in the action. Arianna Jones (FY, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Osseo HS) hit a big three-pointer to put the Auggies up 79-77, but the Cardinals were able to hit 4-of-8 from the free-throw line, while Augsburg couldn't convert on its final two possessions.
• The Augsburg offense finished with five players in double figures, led by Aiza Wilson (FY, Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle HS), who scored 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-8 from three-point range.
• Tamira McLemore (FY, Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS) had a standout night for the Auggies, finishing with 16 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
• On the boards, the Auggies were paced by Camryn Speese (FY, Bloomington, Minn./DeLaSalle HS), who pulled down a team-high nine rebounds, while adding two blocked shots. 
• K'Aezha Wubben (FY, Minneapolis, Minn./Hopkins HS), Bridget Bednar (JR, Pierz, Minn./Pierz HS) and Jones all finished with 11 points apiece. 
• The Auggies claimed a narrow 39-38 advantage on the boards and a 12-0 advantage in fast-break points. Augsburg outscored the Cardinals 30-8 in bench scoring and 46-38 in points in the paint.
• For the game, Augsburg shot 44.6 percent (29-of-65) from the field, while Saint Mary's connected on 48.2 percent (27-of-56) from the floor.

FOR THE FOES
• Saint Mary's was led by Brandi Blattner, who finished with a 24-point, 12-rebound double-double, while shooting 7-of-10 from the field and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line.
• Emma Schaefer finished with 17 points and six assists, while Alexa Huisman put up 16 points and two rebounds.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg returns to action on Saturday (1/14), when the Auggies host St. Olaf College in a women's-men's doubleheader.
• Saint Mary's also returns to action on Saturday (1/14), when the Cardinals travel to St. Joseph, Minn. to take on the College of Saint Benedict.