Huskies Hold Off Final Minute Onslaught, Beat Augustana 74-70

Saturday, January 28

St. Cloud, Minn.

4 p.m.

St. Cloud State

9-11, 7-9NSIC

Augustana University (SD)

14-7, 9-5NSIC

Augustana

St. Cloud State University

Brianna Johnson

Photo by: Brad Olson

Huskies Hold Off Final Minute Onslaught, Beat Augustana 74-70

1/28/2017 5:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

St. Cloud, Minn.- The St. Cloud State Women's basketball team won a close home battle against Augustana University on Jan 28 at Halenbeck Hall by a score of 74-70.

The Huskies (9-11, 7-9 NSIC) shined on Alumni night by breaking their recent losing streak against the Vikings (14-7, 9-5 NSIC) by getting back into the win column. The Huskies would allow Augustana to get out to a 9-2 lead early in the first quarter, but the Huskies tenacity would quickly get them back into the play and tie the game at 11 all. The two teams would then trade off points finding themselves tied again, this time at 14-14. The Huskies, however, would break the tie and end the quarter up 19-14.

The Huskies would then turn on the heat as they would outscore the Vikings 20-9 in the second quarter to go up sixteen points on the visitors, 39-23 heading into halftime. The Huskies defense shined in the first half by crippling the Viking's offense holding them to no field goals in the first half on 14 attempts.

The Huskies would not let up in the slightest in the third quarter, keeping pace with the Vikings who had recovered their offense during the break. The Huskies maintained their pressure and headed into the final frame up thirteen at 58-45.

The Vikings would begin to make more progress in chipping away at the Huskies' lead in the final frame, especially in the final minute of the contest. The Vikings were down 12 points at 74-12 with 48 seconds remaining. The Vikings would then drain two field goals and a jumper inside the arch to get as close as four points, but their late game efforts would prove to be too little too late as the Huskies held on for the 74-70 lead.

The Huskies were led offensively by senior standouts Chelsea Nooker and Betsy MacDonald, with each putting up 19 points. Nooker also led her team in rebounds, grabbing nine on the game. Brianna Johnson grabbed eight rebounds, while MacDonald dished out four assists.

The Vikings were led by Shelby Selland's double-double as she put up 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The Huskies will next travel to Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State on Feb. 3-4 and U-Mary and Minot State Feb. 10-11 before returning home for their final homestand of the season Feb. 17-18 when they play host to MSU-Moorhead and Northern State.