Minneapolis, MN - The Saint Scholastica women's basketball team traveled to Minneapolis, MN this afternoon to play the Auggies of Augsburg University for the final game of the season. The Saints were able to successfully end their season on a high, defeating the Auggies in style with a 65-50 victory.
How it Happened
1st Quarter
The final game of the season opened with the Auggies striking first with a jump shot, but Kloey Lind (Pine City, Minn./Pine City HS) quickly answered with two made free throws to even the score. After another Auggies jumper, Lind drove in for a layup to tie it again at 4-4.
Gabby Voigt (St. Michael. Minn./St. Michael- Albertville HS) then put the Saints ahead by draining the game's first three-pointer, sparking a strong offensive stretch. Hope Carlson (Proctor, Minn./Proctor HS) added to the momentum with a layup, followed by a smooth jumper to push the lead to 11-4 midway through the first quarter.
The Auggies fought back with a pair of free throws after drawing a foul, but the Saints kept up their scoring rhythm. Ava Haus (St. Michael/St. Michael-Albertville High School) and Voigt each knocked down two free throws, maintaining their control of the game.
As the quarter wound down, the Auggies connected on a three-pointer to close the gap slightly, but Daysia Simmons (Albertville, MN/St. Michael HS) added one last free throw for the Saints. By the end of the first, the Saints held a 16-9 advantage, setting the tone for the next quarter.
2nd Quarter
Augsburg opened the second quarter by knocking down two free throws, but Lind quickly responded with a jumper to even the score. Jada Bierschbach (Richmond, Minn./Rocori HS) then got on the board with a pair of free throws, giving the Saints a more comfortable lead.
The Auggies answered with two more from the line, but Carlson kept the momentum on the Saints' side, sinking a three-pointer to extend the lead to 23-13 at the midway point of the quarter.
Freshman Madison Kenyon (Woodstock, IL/Marian Central Catholic HS) got on the board with a fast-break layup for her first points of the game. However, Augsburg found their rhythm immediately after, rattling off seven points in under two minutes to cut the deficit to 25-20 with just 1:30 remaining.
Determined to hold their advantage, the Saints stayed aggressive. Lind added two free throws, though the Auggies answered with a layup. Haus then stepped up, sinking three free throws to keep the Saints in control.
Augsburg had one last opportunity before the half and made the most of it, hitting a jumper to close the gap. At halftime, the Saints held a 30-24 lead in what was shaping up to be a tightly contested battle.
3rd Quarter
The second half kicked off with both teams igniting their offense immediately. Early on, they traded layups before Jackie Johnson (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji HS) drained a three to regain momentum for the Saints.
Augsburg kept chipping away with free throws, closing the gap to 35-31. Voigt answered with a three to widen the lead for the Saints, and Haus added another free throw to keep the pressure on. Ava Reigel contributed with a layup, countering a similar effort by the opposition.
Lind helped maintain the Saints' advantage by matching two free throws with a jumper, and when the Auggies scored again in the paint, Johnson hit a free throw followed by a three, extending the score to 47-37.
With the clock winding down and a 10-point margin, Lind came through with two more free throws. Still, Augsburg wasn't finished; they closed the third quarter with three additional free throw points, setting the score at 49-40 in favor of the Saints as they headed into the final quarter.
4th Quarter
The final quarter began with a slow start, as neither team found the basket in the opening minutes. That changed when Johnson drilled another three-pointer, pushing the Saints' lead to 52-40.
Augsburg fought back, scoring on two layups and a three, but Carlson and Haus kept the Saints in control, continuing to add to their tally and stretching the lead to 60-47 with four minutes remaining.
Despite the clock working against them, the Auggies refused to back down, sinking three more free throws. However, the Saints' offense proved too much to handle once again.
Voigt added a free throw, followed by a strong layup from Lind. With just a minute left, Kenyon sealed the victory with another layup. The Saints closed out their season in style, securing a commanding 65-50 win over Augsburg University.
