WBK: Augie Gets Back To Winning

Shaunteva Ashley’s career-high 23 points led the Vikings back to their winning ways with a 92-44 drubbing of Bemidji State.  The Vikings recover after losing their first two games of the year the previous weekend and improve to 10-2 on the season with a 6-2 record in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference competition.  The Beavers fall to 6-6 on the season, 2-6 in NSIC action.

For the Vikings, the game featured a slew of career and season-best numbers including Alex Feeeny cracking the top 10 all-time scoring list for the Augustana women’s basketball program.

With her 11th point of the night Feeney slid into sole possession of eighth place on Augustana’s all-time scoring list.  Feeney finished with 12 points and now has 1,391 for her career.

Ashley set career-highs in points and three-point field goals made with 23 points and five three-pointers made.  Ashley was a perfect 5-5 from behind the arc, finished 8-10 from the floor and also chipped in with four assists.

The Vikings’ hot shooting from three also knocked down a team record for three-point percentage. Augustana hit 14-22 from behind the arc for 63.6 percent topping their previous best of 57.1 percent in a win over Presentation College on Feb. 12, 2006.

Faith Tinklenberg, Lydia Nelson, and Riley Nordgaard all scored in double figures for the Vikings.  Tinklenberg dropped 16 on 6-7 shooting while Nelson and Nordgaard contributed 15 and 10, respectively.

This marks just the second time the Vkings were outrebounded this season. Bemidji State snatched 45 boards and the Vikings pulled 44 led by Nordgaard’s nine.

To lead the Beavers, Kate Warmack poured in 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

After a pair of free throws from Feeney to give the Vikings a 6-5 lead, it was all Augustana.  The Vikings hit 10 three-point baskets in the first half, a season-high for three-point field goals made in a single half.  Ashley was 4-4 from deep and the Vikings shot 10-12 from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes.

The Vikings forced 12 turnovers and converted those into eight points.  The Vikings shot 57.1 percent from the field in the first half and dropped 14 assists on 40 field goals.

In the second half, the Vikings cranked up the defensive pressure and limited the Beavers to just 10 points in 8.6 percent shooting.  Bemidji State was held scoreless for 7:33 before a layup at the seven-minute mark in the second half stopped the drought. But that was the final points the Vikings would score all night.

The Beavers missed their last 14 shots and committed five turnovers in the final seven minutes of the game.

Augustana finished with 22 assists on 33 field goals.  The Vikings also shot 50 percent from the field on the night.

Augustana now travels to Minnesota, Crookston for a 4 p.m. showdown on Jan. 12.


Courtesy: Eric Zahn, Assistant Sports Information Director, Augustana College