MINNEAPOLIS – Propelled by a lockdown effort on defense and double-digit scoring from Selena Lor (SR, Winona, Minn./Winona HS), Jen Masello (SR, Darien, Ill./Downers Grove South HS), and Anja Smith (SO, Kewaskum, Wis./Saint Mary's Springs HS), the Augsburg University women's basketball earned a 58-42 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over St. Olaf College on Saturday afternoon at Si Melby Hall.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 58, St. Olaf 42
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 15-4 overall (15-1 MIAC), St. Olaf 7-12 overall (6-10 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• For the second straight game, the Auggies found themselves at an early deficit as St. Olaf jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the game. Masello put the Auggies on the board at the 7:25 mark with what proved to be the spark for an 18-2 Augsburg run to close out the first quarter. The Oles managed to cut the deficit to just three with 1:37 remaining in the second quarter, but Katie Manecke (SO, Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS) responded with a three of her own to make it 27-21 Augsburg at halftime.
• The Auggie lead bounced between five and 12 points in the third quarter, ending with an eight-point advantage heading into the final frame. The lead continued to grow throughout the fourth quarter, peaking at 19 points with just 20 seconds left in the game as the Auggies claimed their 15th win of the season.
• Lor finished as the Auggies' scoring leader, tallying 14 points on five-of-nine shooting and three-of-six from beyond the arc.
• Masello notched her eighth double-double of the season and the ninth in her career with 13 points and 15 rebounds in the game. She also grabbed a season-high seven steals, five assists, and a block. Smith also finished in double figures, scoring 12 and adding in seven rebounds.
• Manecke and Jaley Coplin (JR, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) added six points each for Augsburg, with Coplin contributing six rebounds, three steals, and two assists and Manecke grabbing a steal and an assist.
• The Auggie defense had another stellar outing, holding St. Olaf to just 16-of-49 (32.7%) from the floor and four-of-17 (23.5%) from deep while forcing 23 Ole turnovers.
• The Auggies once again dominated most scoring categories, outscoring the Oles 32-12 off turnovers, 30-20 in the lane, and 8-4 in fast break opportunities.

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 third in points per-game (14.9) and second in rebounds per-game (9.5) while Smith ranks second in points per-game (15.3) and third in field goal percentage (51.4%).

FOR THE FOES
• Paige Yagodinski led the Oles with 12 points and three rebounds while Rachel Kelly added 10 points and eight rebounds.

UP NEXT
• The Auggies will head to St. Peter, Minnesota to take on Gustavus on Monday (2/7) at 7 p.m.