MINNEAPOLIS – The Augsburg University women's basketball team opened up play in the 2024 calendar year on Wednesday evening, earning a 63-52 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win over Saint Mary's University at Si Melby Hall.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCOaRE: Augsburg 63, Saint Mary's 52
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 3-6 overall (2-4 MIAC), Saint Mary's 2-10 overall (0-8 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Both teams briefly held the lead in the game's opening quarter, but the score was tied at 15 each as the first buzzer sounded. The Auggies scored first to open the second quarter in what proved to be the game's final lead change, pushing the advantage as high as seven before the Cardinals cut the deficit to just one at 25-24 at halftime.
• Augsburg dominated the third quarter, outscoring Saint Mary's 23-4 and closing the frame on a 17-0 run spanning more than seven minutes to take a dominant 48-28 led into the fourth. The Cardinals managed to cut the deficit to eight, but it proved to be all they could do as Augsburg once again took a double-digit lead before securing the 63-52 win.
• The Auggies dominated the lane throughout the game, outscoring the Cardinals 20-10 in the painted area and outrebounding them 46-38. Augsburg also won the turnover margin 20-16 and capitalized with a 12-8 edge in points off turnovers.
• Anja Smith (SR, Keawaskum, Wis./Saint Mary's Springs HS) turned in one of her strongest performances of the season, scoring 20 points and adding nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Kalena Myers (SR, Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) was the only other Auggie in double figures with 11 points, four steals, and three rebounds.
• Melanie Delestrez (SO, Lake Stevens, Wash./Lake Stevens HS) made the first start of her career as an Auggie, scoring nine points and pulling down six rebounds. Amira LaDuke (SO, Cass Lake, Minn./Cass Lake-Bena HS) scored seven points with eight rebounds while Saylor Gallagher (FY, Mounds View, Minn./Irondale HS) and Wakinyela Bear (SO, Morrison, Colo./Meskwaki HS) scored eight and five points, respectively.

FOR THE FOES
• The Cardinals were led by the duo of Grace Schaffer and Zoe Fink with 14 points each.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg will take on Hamline University in a road MIAC contest on Saturday (1/6) at 1 pm.