SIOUX FALLS, S.D. –
Natalie Jens hit a lay-up with under five seconds remaining to help lift MSU Moorhead over Augustana, 63-60, inside the Sanford Pentagon on Friday night.
Jens finished with a game-high 29 points as the junior has averaged 25.6 points per game in her last three contests.
How The Game Was Won
- The Dragons would fall victim to an early Augustana run in the first quarter as the Vikings would lead 16-7.
- Augie was also able to get MSUM in foul trouble early as Terryn Johnson picked up two fouls in the first five minutes of play.
- MSUM would rally late in the frame as freshmen Karlee Fisher, Katelyn Maciej and Abby Berge would score consecutive baskets to pull within five points. The Vikings would respond thereafter, leading 21-15 through 10 minutes.
- The Dragons would bring the count to within two points after a Natalie Jens and-one early in the second quarter.
- Both teams struggled to score in the second period, but MSUM would manage to outscore Augustana 14-6.
- MSUM would hold Augustana to just 15.4 percent shooting during the quarter. The Dragons held the Vikings scoreless for the final four minutes of the period.
- Despite shooting just 38.5 percent in the second period, MSUM would put together a late surge to take a 29-27 halftime lead.
- Natalie Jens netted a three-pointer with just under a minute remaining to give the Dragons the lead. Jens finished the first half with a game-high 14 points.
- MSUM's offense continued to dominate out of the locker room, posting 24 points in the third period.
- The Dragons shot a whopping 66.7 percent (10-15) in the quarter as Jens would score 11 more points in the third.
- Augustana would improve their shooting percentage from the second quarter (47.1 percent), but MSUM would remain in front 53-46 by quarter's end.
- The Vikings would trim the Dragon lead to two points (57-55) midway through the final quarter before an Olivia Skibiel three-pointer gave MSUM some breathing room.
- Augustana would tie the game at 60 points with just over two minutes remaining following a pair of missed free throws from MSUM.
- While Augustana held the Dragons scoreless for nearly five minutes, MSUM retained the ball after a Skibiel steal with 20 seconds remaining.
- Jens took the inbounds pass out of a timeout and used a high ball screen from Maya Metcalf to weave into the lane and score the go-ahead lay-up with four seconds left.
- Jens finished with a game-high 29 points, her third straight game with 20 or more points.
- MSUM once again won the battle on the glass, outrebounding Augustana 36-33.
Top Dragons
Up Next
MSUM (4-8, 4-3 NSIC) returns to the court tomorrow afternoon for a 5:30 p.m. road matchup with Wayne State.
