MINNEAPOLIS – Closing the game on a 14-0 run covering the final eight minutes of play, the Augsburg University women's basketball team earned a 63-45 season-opening win over the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in nonconference play at Si Melby Hall on Tuesday evening.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 63, UW-River Falls 45
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 1-0 overall, UW-River Falls 2-1 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair containing eight lead changes, but Kalena Myers (JR, Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) hit her second three-pointer of the first quarter with 14 seconds remaining to give Augsburg a 22-20 lead as the quarter expired. The Auggies maintained a slim lead for most of the second quarter, heading into halftime holding a 33-30 advantage.
• Augsburg opened the third with a 7-0 run to go up 40-30, but the Falcons outscored the Auggies 13-5 the rest of the quarter to cut the lead to 45-43 at the quarter break. Augsburg dominated every aspect of the final frame, outscoring the Falcons 18-2 in the quarter and closing the game on a 14-0 run covering the final eight minutes of play to cap off the victory.
• Jaley Coplin (SR, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) was lights out for most of the night on offense, shooting 10-12 from the floor for a career-high 24 points to go along with four rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Anja Smith (JR, Kewaskum, Wis./Saint Mary's Springs HS) and Myers each got into double figures with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Smith has now scored in double figures in 16-straight games and in 22 of her 23 games as an Auggie.
• Samaiya Buchanan (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./Hopkins HS) logged career-highs in both points and rebounds, scoring 12 and hauling in 12 boards for her first career double-double.
• As a team, Augsburg shot 22-51 (43.1%) from the floor and 6-19 (31.6%) from beyond the arc while River Falls hit just 15 of 62 (24.2%) shots from the field and 10-42 (23.8%) from deep.
• The Auggies dominated in multiple statistical categories, outscoring the Falcons 12-0 on fast-break opportunities, 24-8 in the paint, and 21-11 off turnovers.

FOR THE FOES
• Averie Varsho led the Falcons with 16 points on five-of-15 shooting while Macy Nilsen grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds.

UP NEXT
• The Auggies will now play six-straight road contests, starting with their Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener at Macalester on Saturday (11/19) at 3 pm.