Augustana 74 Wayne State 63

            Wayne State shot a season-low 32.8 percent (19-58) while Augustana posted 52 percent shooting as the host Vikings defeated the Wildcats 74-63 Sunday evening in Northern Sun Conference women's basketball played at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.  Augustana is now 7-5 and 3-5 in league play while WSC is also 7-5 and 4-4 in the NSIC South Division.
            The Wildcats opened the game with a 3-pointer from Kassidy Pingel for its lone lead of the contest.  Augustana scored the next eight points for an 8-3 lead.
            WSC was as close as one several times later in the first quarter before the host Vikings closed the opening period with a 17-12 lead thanks to 50 percent (7-14) shooting compared to just 4 of 13 for the Wildcats.
            The Vikings extended their lead in the second quarter and was in front 30-19 with 4:44 to play in the first half.
            WSC closed the second quarter with a strong run and cut the Augustana lead to just three right before halftime on a Tate Norblade offensive rebound and put back to end the half trailing 35-32.
            Augustana came out strong in the third quarter, making 8 of 12 shots to push the Vikings' advantage into double digits again as the host team closed the quarter with a 55-43 lead after holding WSC to just 3-14 (21%) shooting in the quarter.
            The Vikings opened the fourth quarter with a basket to take their biggest lead of the game at 57-43. 
            WSC scored the next six points to get within eight at 57-49, but again the Vikings stopped the run and pushed the lead back to double figures and finished with the 74-63 victory.
            Junior forward Kassidy Pingel tied a career-high with 18 points to lead Wayne State in scoring.  Senior guard Kylie Hammer also hit double digits with 17 points.
            Wayne State made just 19 of 58 shots for a season-low 32.8 percent, including 6-27 from the 3-point line.  The 'Cats sank 19 of 31 free throw attempts.
            Lauren Sees scored a game-high 24 points for Augustana.  Vishe' Rabb added 19 with Aislin Duffy scoring 13.
            Augustana shot 51.8 percent in the game making 29 of 56 shots, going 7-17 from the 3-point line.  The Vikings were 9-13 at the foul stripe.
            The host Vikings held a 43-29 edge in rebounding over WSC despite the 'Cats grabbing a season-high 13 offensive boards.  Pingel, Lauren Zacharias, Abby Kopecky and Tate Norblade each had four rebounds. 
            Zacharias had a team-high four assists while Norblade recorded two steals.
            WSC returns home to Rice Auditorium next weekend hosting Northern State Friday at 7:30 p.m. and MSU Moorhead Saturday at 5:30 p.m.