Lady Saints Open with Loss

NSO – NEWS RELEASE

DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women’s basketball team lost its season opener Saturday afternoon to Augsburg College by a score of 63-47 in the Reif Gymnasium.

The score was close in the first half with nine ties and six lead changes. St. Scholastica had the lead at the break 26-24. Augsburg shot just over 36 percent from the field while St. Scholastica shot just over 28 percent in the first half. The Auggies didn’t make any of the four 3-point shots they took in the first half, but the Saints shot 2-of-7 from beyond the arc.

Augsburg turned the heat up in the second half. The Auggies shot over 53 percent from the field while the Saints only shot 41 percent. Augsburg shot 4-for-8 from the 3-point line. Augsburg used an 8-0 run three minutes into the second half to take a seve-point lead. St. Scholastica got the margin back down to two with 7:35 remaining, but the Auggies responded with a 16-1 run to blow the game open and ultimately win 63-47.

The Saints were unable to keep Augsburg out of the paint as the Auggies tallied 34 of their points from within the lane, including 22 in the second half alone. The Auggies also outscored the Saints 17-6 in points off turnovers in the second half.

Kelsey Sorenson-Giffrow (Braham, Minn./Braham HS (Minn. Duluth)) led the Saints’ attack with 11 points and four rebounds. Right behind her was Mariah Hovick (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) with 10 points and five assists.  Hovick also went 8-for-10 from the free throw line. Jenna Langer (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle HS) led the bench players with six points and four rebounds. For Augsburg, Raeann Sorenson led the scoring charge with 21 points. Jessica Lillquist added 18 points.

The Saints’ next game is on Tuesday at the Reif Gymnasium. CSS will face Bridge Rival University of Wisconsin-Superior at 7 p.m. in the Reif Gymnasium. The action can be seen live on Saints Sports Net.