MINNEAPOLIS – In a battle of the conference unbeatens, the Augsburg University women's basketball team defeated Gustavus Adolphus College 55-46 on Wednesday evening in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play at Si Melby Hall to keep its perfect conference record alive.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg def. Gustavus 55-46
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 5-3 overall (5-0 MIAC), Gustavus 5-2 overall (4-1 MIAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Auggies dominated the first quarter of the game, making the first five baskets of the game and holding a 15-0 lead nearly eight minutes into the opening quarter. The Gusties finally got on the scoreboard with 1:43 remaining in the quarter with Augsburg closing the quarter up 19-4.
• The second quarter was a low-scoring affair all around as each team scored just four to preserve the Augsburg lead at 15 at halftime.
• The Auggie defense was outstanding in the first half, holding Gustavus to just three-of-25 from the floor (12.0%).
• The Gustavus offense finally got rolling in the third quarter, hitting eight of their 11 attempts and outscoring Augsburg 22-11 to cut the lead to just four heading into the fourth. The Auggies bounced back in the final frame, outscoring Gustavus 21-16 to seal the win.
• Both teams struggled shooting the ball in the game with Augsburg connecting on 18-of-51 attempts (35.3%) and Gustavus hitting on 18-of-54 (33.3%).
• Jen Masello (SR, Darien, Ill./Downers Grove South HS) returned to form as the scoring leader for the Auggies, notching 16 points on five-of-12 shooting to go along with six rebounds, five steals, and three assists.
• Anja Smith (SO, Kewaskum, Wis./Saint Mary's Springs HS) had a solid night off the bench, registering 13 points on six-of-13 shooting and adding in five rebounds, a block, and a steal. Selena Lor (SR, Winona, Minn./Winona HS) was the only other Auggie in double figures as she scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds, four assist, and two steals in the game.
• Jaley Coplin (JR, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) was the rebounding leader for Augsburg with seven boards and eight points in the game. Kalena Myers (SO, Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) scored six points and grabbed an assist for the Auggies.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• Following Saturday's game, Masello now ranks second in the MIAC overall statistics rankings with 10.1 rebounds per-game and also sits in a tie for second with 15.8 points per-game.
FOR THE FOES
• Emma Kniefel and Anna Sanders tied for the scoring lead as they each scored 10 for the Gusties in the game.
UP NEXT
• Augsburg will hit the road to Northfield, Minn. for a MIAC matchup with St. Olaf on Saturday, December 11 at 1 p.m.
