MINNEAPOLIS – Behind a new program record 39 points from Anja Smith (SO, Kewaskum, Wis./Saint Mary's Springs HS), the Augsburg University women's basketball team defeated the College of Saint Benedict 76-67 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon at Si Melby Hall.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 76, Saint Benedict 67
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 17-5 overall (17-2 MIAC), Saint Benedict 13-9 overall (10-9 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Auggies broke a 6-6 tie at the 5:18 mark in the first with a triple from Jaley Coplin (JR, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) and held a slim lead for the rest of the quarter, taking a 16-13 advantage into the first break. The Bennies jumped back on top in the second, but the lead change was short lived as Augsburg took back the lead and held a one-point advantage at the half.
• The third quarter contained four lead changes, but it was Augsburg still sitting on top 51-49 headed into the fourth. The Auggies maintained the lead throughout the duration of the fourth quarter, matching their game-best nine-point lead with a 76-67 score as the final buzzer sounded.
• Smith's career day powered the Auggie offense all game long, scoring a career-high and new Augsburg women's basketball record 39 points on 14-of-21 shooting from the floor, including four-of-seven from deep. She also tallied six rebounds, three steals, and a block. 
• Jen Masello (SR, Darien, Ill./Downers Grove South HS) was the second-leading scorer and the only other Auggie in double figures with 11 points, four rebounds, two blocks, and two assists.
• Coplin and  Kalena Myers (SO, Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) added seven points each, with Coplin grabbing a team-high seven rebounds, four assists, and a steal and Myers tallying four rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
• The Auggies outscored the Bennies 12-2 off turnovers and 46-18 in bench points, with 39 of those points coming from Smith alone.

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 rebounds per-game (9.1) while Smith ranks second in points per-game (16.5), fifth in rebounds per-game (7.1), and fourth with a field goal percentage of 51.4%. Coplin currently sits fifth in the conference with a three-point field goal percentage of 37.7%.
• Augsburg's 17 wins so far this season are the third-most in school history, having finished with 22 wins in both 2018-19 and 2019-20.
• Smith's school record 39 points bested the previous mark of 37 points set by Stefanie Lodermeier in the 1995-96 season. 

FOR THE FOES
• Carla Meyer led Saint Benedict with 16 points while Gabby Martin finished with 15.

UP NEXT
• The Auggies are set to take on Macalester College on Monday (2/14) at 5:45 p.m. in St. Paul.