MOORHEAD, Minn. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team cut a 15-point lead to three late in the fourth quarter but the Dragons' rally came up short in a 74-69 loss to Augustana on Saturday night at Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minn.

MSUM fell to 16-5 overall and 13-5 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with the loss while Augustana improved to 18-6 overall and 12-6 in the league.

Sophomore guard Cassidy Thorson tied a career-high with 19 points for MSUM, while senior forward Heather Strese had 16 points. Sophomore forward Drew Sannes had 11 points and five rebounds. Senior Savanna Handevidt had eight rebounds while Thorson and freshman Jacky Volkert each had four assists. Junior guard Morgan Banasik and junior guard Jessica Hart each had three steals.

MSUM shot 46.3 percent (25-of-54) for the game, compared to 39.4 percent (26-of-66) for the Vikings. A key factor was rebounding, as Augustana had a 43-31 edge in rebounds, including 15-4 on the offensive glass. That gave Augustana an 18-7 edge in second-chance points.

The Dragons trailed 50-35 early in the third quarter and were down 10 going into the fourth. They faced a 72-60 deficit with five minutes left.

Thorson then caught fire from the three-point line, burying three straight 3-pointers in a span of one minute to bring MSUM within 72-69 with 2:46 left.

Twice, MSUM had possessions to tie, but turned it over twice. The Vikings hit two free throws with three seconds left to ice the five-point win.

MSUM trailed by nine after one quarter but came back to get within two late in the half (37-35) after a Volkert basket. The Dragons trailed 39-35 at halftime, with Strese leading the way with eight first-half points.

Augustana opened the second half on an 11-0 run to push the lead to 50-35 before the Dragons cut into the advantage.

Banasik added nine points for MSUM.

MSUM returns to the road on Friday at Minnesota Duluth. Game time is 6 p.m. in Duluth, MInn.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Tonight marked the latest date in the season that the Dragons have suffered their fifth loss in a season since the NCAA playoff bound 2008-09 squad. That Dragon outfit lost 89-53 to the eventual National Champion MSU Mankato Mavericks on Feb. 7, 2009 dropping the Dragons' record to 17-5.