MINNEAPOLIS – The Augsburg University women's basketball team scored a massive victory on Saturday afternoon, knocking off the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference-leading Hamline University Pipers 63-59 at Si Melby Hall.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 63, Hamline 59
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 8-3 overall (5-3 MIAC), Hamline 9-2 overall (6-2 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Augsburg opened the game on a 7-0 run and led 11-2 less than three minutes into the game, but the Pipers captured the momentum with an 11-0 scoring run to take their first lead at 13-11 near the midpoint of the first quarter. The two teams went blow-for-blow for the remainder of the quarter with Hamline holding a 17-15 lead at the first quarter break. The second quarter was a back-and-forth affair containing four lead changes, but two made free throws by Katie Manecke (JR, Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS) with less than a second on the clock would tie the game at 33 at halftime.
• The Pipers scored first and controlled a majority of the third quarter, holding a narrow lead until Augsburg tied the game at 41 each with 1:56 on the clock and regained the lead on a fast-break layup from Kalena Myers (JR, Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) just over 30 seconds later. The Pipers went back on top once again, however, and took a 47-43 lead into the final quarter break.
• The final quarter was the most tightly contested yet, containing three ties and six lead changes before a winner could be decided. Tied at 52-52 with 4:13 to play, Augsburg leaned on its veteran players down the stretch as Jaley Coplin (SR, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) knocked down a pair of three-pointers, Manecke hit three huge free throws, and Anja Smith (JR, Kewaskum, Wis./Saint Mary's Springs HS) put the game on ice with a layup with just 20 seconds on the clock.
• Smith finished as the scoring leader and nearly logged a double-double, tallying 20 points, nine rebounds, and three steals. Coplin also had a strong day, adding 18 points and four rebounds. Manecke and Myers scored seven each while Grace Eastman (SR, Elk River, Minn./St. Francis HS) contributed five points and two steals.
• Neither team shot the ball particularly well with the Pipers (21-59, 35.6%) narrowly outshooting the Auggies (23-65, 35.4%). Turnovers were vital in the game, with the Auggies cashing in 18 Piper turnovers for 19 points while Hamline scored just five off eight turnovers.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• Following the game, Smith ranks second in the MIAC with 16.9 points per-game while Coplin ranks third with 16.0. Coplin also ranks second in the conference in three-point field-goal percentage at 48.1% (25-52).

FOR THE FOES
• Lydia Lecher notched the game's only double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds while Chan'el Anderson-Man added 10 points and four rebounds.

UP NEXT
• The Auggies will cross the river to St. Paul, Minn. to take on St. Catherine University in MIAC action on Wednesday (1/11) at 7 pm.