SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Free throw shooting and rebounding were the keys as the Augustana Vikings women's basketball team (8-3, 2-1 NCC) took a 75-69 North Central Conference victory over the University of South Dakota on Friday night at the Elmen Center. While USD (6-4, 1-2 NCC) showed some offensive spark, the Vikings' size hurt a shorter USD team.
After falling behind by six at the halftime break, the Coyotes stormed back to take a 54-53 lead with about 10 minutes to play in the game. However, the Coyotes were outscored 22-15 as the Vikings won their NCC home opener. In anybody's estimation, the Coyotes biggest problem was rebounding. The Vikings had a 54-29 advantage for the game. Time and time again, they used their size inside to grab offensive rebounds and score field goals in the paint. Augustana had a 19-7 offensive rebound edge. Another key to the game was at the free throw line. The Vikings hit 25-of-34 (.735) while the Coyotes had just nine free throw attempts, making six. Overall USD had 24 fouls while Augustana was whistled for 15.
The Coyotes jumped out quickly to grab a 7-4 lead at the 16:58 mark of the first half after sophomore Julia Frie hit a field goal. The Vikings fought back to take an 8-7 lead when Tamera Oltmans scored at 15:58. Then USD, keyed by five points from Heather Nelson, went on a 7-0 run to grab a 14-8 lead with 14:33 to play. After the Vikings' Tresse Klumper tied the game at 14-14 (11:59 mark), the Coyotes went on a 7-2 run to grab a 21-16 lead at 10:30 of the first half. Again, USD extended their lead to 24-18 after Amanda Iverson converted a layup and free throw at the 9:26 mark. After that, Augustana took control, outscoring the Coyotes 16-4 during the final nine minutes of the half. In fact, the Coyotes scored just one point, a Kelly Koepp free throw, in the final 6:28 of the opening half.
While USD showed some offensive spark, the Coyotes hit just 39.3 percent in the first half. They converted 4-of-10 three-point baskets and were 2-of-3 from the free throw line. Nelson had eight points and Frie six to lead USD. Augustana, which hit 14-of-31 (.452) first half field goals, were led by Oltmans and Brittani Janssen, who each scored eight points as Augustana led 34-28 at the break. Perhaps the biggest difference was rebounds as the Vikings had a 25-14 advantage in the opening half.
While both offenses struggled in the final five minutes of the first half, the two teams went back and forth in the first nine minutes of the second half. After Augustana grabbed a 38-30 lead with 17:47 on the clock, the Coyotes fought back to 40-36 on a Nicole Jaycox three-pointer. After the Vikings opened up a 44-38 lead at 14:11, Frie answered with a three-point field goal to draw Coyotes within 44-41 at the 13:53 mark. But Janssen scored three consecutive baskets in the paint to grab a 52-48 lead with 11:28 to play. Krista Orsack caught fire in the second half, and her third three-pointer in a two-minute span gave the Coyotes a 54-53 lead. Five straight points by Sheppard moved the lead back to Augustana at 58-54 with 8:40 to play. The Vikings extended the lead to 65-58 at the 4:49 mark when Sheppard again found an opening inside. Then a basket by Jodi Schroeder brought USD within 65-60 at the 3:40 mark. A basket by Koepp with 2:28 to play drew the Coyotes to 66-62, but that was as close as the Coyotes would get. A three-point play by Koepp with seven seconds left moved USD to 71-66, but it was too little, too late. A three-pointer by Orsack was followed by two free throws by Oltmans, and the Coyotes ended up on the short side of the score by six.
Frie led the Coyotes with 14 points and seven rebounds while Orsack had 13 points, as she hit 4-of-9 three-point baskets. Jaycox added 10 points. Augustana received 22 points from Oltmans and 17 from Janssen. Nicole Tendler and Sheppard each added 11 points. Sheppard had 12 rebounds and Janssen grabbed 10.
