MINNEAPOLIS – Using another strong performance from Jen Masello (SR, Darien, Ill./Downers Grove South HS), the Augsburg University women's basketball team claimed a dominant 74-39 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over the College of St. Scholastica on Wednesday evening at Si Melby Hall to extend its winning streak to 11 games and keep its perfect MIAC record alive.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 74, St. Scholastica 39
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 11-3 overall (11-0 MIAC), St. Scholastica 0-14 overall (0-12)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The game remained relatively even in the opening minutes with St. Scholastica scoring the first points from the floor and taking their first and only lead at the 8:47 mark in the first quarter. The Auggies jumped back on top less than 20 seconds later, gaining the lead for what proved to be the final time. Thanks in large part to an 8-0 run, the Auggies led 17-12 at the end of one. Using a 9-0 run in the middle of the second, the Auggies extended their lead to 22 at the half.
• The Auggies kept their foot on the gas coming out of the locker room, scoring the first 11 points of the half and taking a commanding 52-19 lead at the 6:49 mark. Through three quarters of play, Augsburg led 62-31. The Auggies' lead ballooned to as many as 38 points in the fourth quarter as they cruised to the 35-point win.
• Masello was extremely efficient with her scoring opportunities, knocking down seven of her eight shots from the floor for 20 points and grabbing eight rebounds, three steals, a block, and an assist.
• Coming off the bench, Anja Smith (SO, Kewaskum, Wis./Saint Mary's Springs HS) was the second leading scorer for the Auggies with 14 points on six-of-eight shooting along with five rebounds. Jaley Coplin (JR, Shakoppe, Minn./Shakopee HS) also finished in double figures as she recorded 11 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
• Selena Lor (SR, Winona, Minn./Winona HS) finished with eight points, two assists, a rebound, and a steal while Kalena Myers (SO, Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) and Grace Eastman (JR, St. Francis, Minn./St. Francis HS) added six and five points, respectively. Myers forced three turnovers and notched two assists and two rebounds while Eastman grabbed a career-high eight boards, two steals, and an assist.
• The Auggies were active on defense all night, forcing 23 turnovers and scoring 30 points off turnovers while holding the Saints to just eight.
• Augsburg also outscored the Saints 10-2 in fast break opportunities, 38-28 in the paint, and 13-5 in second chance points.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• Following the game, both Masello and Smith rank within the top five in several categories of the MIAC overall statistics rankings. Masello ranks second in points per-game (15.6) and rebounds per-game (9.6) while Smith ranks third in points per-game (15.3) and field goal percentage (52.7%).
• The Auggies' 11-0 to start to MIAC play this season extends the new program record for most MIAC wins in a row to start the season, besting the previous record of 7-0 set in 2018-19.

FOR THE FOES
• Megan Hurley led the Saints with 11 points while Karli Nixon added seven.

UP NEXT
• The Auggies are set to host Hamline in MIAC action on Saturday (1/22) at 1 p.m. at Si Melby Hall.