Sioux Falls, S.D.— Augustana used a 15-2 run in the second half that helped obtain the 68-65 win over Minnesota State Friday inside the Elmen Center. The game came down to the last seconds, as the Mavericks goes back to .500 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.

Despite a three hour bus ride, the Mavericks came out fast and strong, rallying off an 8-0 run to open the game against the Vikings.

The leading scoring team in the NSIC Conference came out sluggish tonight, as Augustana shot 2-of-12 from the floor to give the Mavericks a 12-6 edge, seven minutes into the game.

Augustana made a push in the first half, shrinking the Mavericks lead to 17-14 before Junior Lauren Barber and Freshman Hillary Paulson responded within seconds from downtown giving Minnesota State its largest lead of the half, 23-14.

In a first half filled with rebounds, MSU owned the boards 30-23, with ten being offensive boards. Junior Laura Weber pulled down nine rebounds in the first half with seven points. Weber would finish with 11 rebounds and nine points in the game. MSU outrebounded the Vikings 42-37.

Each team shot under 30 percent in the half, as MSU shot 10-of-37 for 27 percent and Augustana shot 8-of-31 for 26 percent as MSU headed into the half with a 29-24.

It didn’t take long for the Vikings to get back in the game as they knotted the game up 45 seconds into the second half.

Senior Andrea Walsh and Junior Jennie Noreen took matters into her own hands on the next two MSU possessions as they converted for five points to put the Mavericks back on top. Walsh would finish with 12 points and five assists on the evening.

Augustana’s Alex Feeney hit a three-pointer at 15:40 remaining to give the Vikings their first lead of the day of 39-38. The Vikings second half consisted of a 15-2 run to put it atop of MSU 48-38 with 12:33 remaining and keep a healthy lead until the final minutes.

MSU’s Alli Hoefer, Walsh and Wilkinson would convert on consecutive baskets to put MSU within four points with 1:14 remaining in the game.

Even though Augustana failed to make a field goal in the last 3 minutes and 45 seconds, Megan Doyle hit two key free throws. Minnesota State failed on its chance to tie the game with a three-pointer as the buzzer rang.

Minnesota State (11-8, 8-8 NSIC) will head to Wayne, Neb., Saturday to play ninth-ranked Wayne State at 4 p.m.