MINNEAPOLIS – The Augsburg University women's basketball team dropped a nail-biter on Saturday afternoon, falling to the College of Saint Benedict 67-63 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play at Si Melby Hall.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Saint Benedict 67, Augsburg 63
 LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 9-7 overall (6-7 MIAC)Saint Benedict 12-4 overall (9-4 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Auggies held a narrow lead for a majority of a low-scoring opening quarter, heading into the first quarter break with a 13-12 advantage. Augsburg worked to extend its lead throughout the second quarter, peaking at 10 before the Bennies cut it to six at 30-24 at halftime.
• The Bennies flipped the script and captured all the momentum in the third quarter, outscoring Augsburg 21-12 to take a three-point lead into the final quarter. The Auggies cut the deficit to just one on two separate occasions, but the Bennies had an answer each time as they worked their way to their biggest lead of the night at 59-49 with 3:21 to play. The Auggies would not go down without a fight, clawing their way back into the game and using a three-pointer from Jaley Coplin (SR, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) with just four seconds left to cut the deficit to two. It proved to be all they could do, however, with the Bennies making a layup on the ensuing possession to put the game on ice.
• Coplin was the heartbeat for the Auggie offense in the game, scoring a career-high 27 points on 10-22 shooting while adding four rebounds and a steal. Kalena Myers (JR, Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) finished with 14 points and four rebounds while Katie Manecke (JR, Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS) and Grace Eastman (SR, Elk River, Minn./St. Francis HS) added seven points each. Samaiya Buchanan (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./Hopkins HS) came off the bench to lead Augsburg with eight rebounds.
• The Auggies were better at taking care of the basketball, winning the turnover battle by a margin of 14-17 and cashing those turnovers in for 19 points to the Bennies' 12.

FOR THE FOES
• Carla Meyer topped the Saint Benedict scoresheet with a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double and Sophia Jonas finished with 11 points.

UP NEXT
• The Auggies will prepare to host Carleton College on Wednesday, January 25 at 7 pm as the second of four-straight home games.