SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team dropped a 63-60 overtime contest to Augustana in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. The Dragons led by as many as 14 in the first half but the Vikings rallied in the second half.
MSUM fell to 13-6 overall and 8-4 in the NSIC while Augustana improved to 10-6 overall and 6-6 in the league.
Both teams struggled shooting from the field — MSUM shot 30.6 percent (19-of-62) while the Vikings shot 32.8 percent (21-of-64). MSUM out rebounded the Vikings 52-39 but also committed 21 turnovers compared to 12 for Augustana.
Megan Hintz had her second double-double of the weekend with 15 points and 10 rebounds. She was a perfect 8-of-8 from the foul line. Junior guard
Brooklyn Liegel had 12 points. Senior forward
Madi Green had nine points and nine rebounds off the bench.
After trailing by eight at halftime, Augie took a 39-38 lead with 4:37 left in the third quarter and from there, the game was close. Augustana tied the game at 53-53 with 24 seconds left in regulation and the Dragons had a shot to win in the closing seconds but the basket missed.
Sophomore forward
Peyton Boom converted a three-point play to put MSUM up 56-53 in overtime, but the Vikings scored the next eight points to take a 61-56 lead with 1:27 left. Six of those eight points came from the free throw line.
Two free throws from junior guard
Sarah Jacobson brought MSUM within three, and Hintz hit a pair of free throws with eight seconds left to cut the lead to 61-60. Augie hit two free throws with seven seconds left and MSUM's three-pointer at the buzzer wouldn't fall.
MSUM opened the game on a 10-3 run with Liegel and Hintz draining three-pointers during that run. The Dragons led 14-8 after one quarter. That advantage grew to 22-8 with 7:36 left in the first half after a basket by Hintz. The Dragons took a 32-24 lead into halftime.
Jacobson had six assists and seven rebounds.
MSUM opens a crucial four-game homestand on Friday, Jan. 24 vs. first-place Minnesota Duluth.
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: This weekend's losses mark the first time the Dragons have dropped two straight conference games since falling at home to MSU Mankato on Jan. 31, 2015, then six nights later at Wayne State. It was the first time they dropped a two-game NSIC weekend since losing at home to Minot St. Feb. 21, 2014, then the following night to the University of Mary. It was the first time they got swept on a road NSIC weekend since dropping a 64-53 decision at Bemidji St. on Feb. 17, 2014, then 65-63 at Minnesota Crookston the following afternoon.
