Augustana shot nearly 55 percent for the game and cruised past Wayne State College 93-74 in the Northern Sun Conference women's basketball opener for both teams Tuesday evening played at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  The Vikings improve to 4-0 and 1-0 in the league while the Wildcats drop to 2-1 and 0-1 in NSIC play.
            Maya Fitzpatrick scored the first basket of the game for the Wildcats and that was the lone WSC lead of the contest.  But Augustana produced better than 50 percent shooting in the opening two quarters and never looked back.
            Augustana scored the next seven points for a 7-2 lead.  A Lauren Zacharias 3-pointer later tied the score at 8-8.           
            With the Vikings leading 13-12 at the 3:26 mark of the first quarter, Augustana scored the next nine points for a double digit lead at 22-12 and finished the opening quarter with a 22-15 lead.
            The host Vikings maintained a double digit lead most of the second quarter, pushing the advantage to as many as 16 at 39-23, until the 'Cats closed the deficit to 10 at intermission 44-34.
            Augustana shot even better in the third quarter, making 10 of 15 shots for 66 percent, and outscored WSC 31-16 to take a commanding 75-50 lead into the fourth quarter. 
            Senior guard Lauren Zacharias was the lone Wildcat in double figures with 12 points.  Maya Fitzpatrick added nine while Logan Hughes, Abby Kopecky and Delaney Clark each had eight.
            WSC shot 38.6 percent from the field making 27 of 70 shots.  The 'Cats were 6 for 23 behind the arc and 14 of 21 at the free throw line.
            Augustana ended the game shooting 54.8 percent on 34 of 62 shooting.  The Vikings were just 5 of 15 from the 3-point line but made 20 of 22 free throws in the win.
            Aislinn Duffy had a double-double for Augustana with 19 points and 12 rebounds.  Lauren Sees (17), Michaela Jewett (14), Aby Phipps (14) and Jennifer Aadland (11) also hit double figures for the Vikings.
            Augustana held a 40-37 edge in rebounding over the Wildcats with Fitzpatrick grabbing six boards for WSC. 
            The Wildcats will be on the road this Thanksgiving weekend playing in the Colorado Mesa Tournament in Grand Junction, Colorado, facing Fort Lewis Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. Central Time followed by a Saturday 6 p.m. contest vs. Colorado Mesa.