Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team fell to Augustana University on Saturday afternoon at Taylor Center, 87-73. A 32-8 third quarter run by the Vikings helped catapult them to the win.
 
With the loss, MSU's overall record falls 4-9 overall and 3-6 in NSIC play.
 
In the first quarter of play, MSU started the game cold from the field as it converted on just two made field-goals (2-of-16) in the period. At the first media timeout both teams were tied at 5-5, before Augie closed out the quarter on a 14-3 run to give the Vikings a, 19-8, lead over the Mavericks.
 
In quarter number two, the Vikings were still clinging onto an 11 point lead, 27-16, with 5:09 left to play, before the Mavericks chipped away into the lead. MSU managed to close the first half on an 18-9 run to close the Vikings gap to just a two-point lead, 36-34, at halftime.
 
Despite the being down two points at the break, MSU shot just 24% from the field in the first half, while AU connected on 42% of its shots. The Mavericks were also outscored 21-8 in points off turnovers, as MSU coughed the ball up 14 times in the first halftime. Free-throws and offensive rebounds help the Mavericks trim into the Vikings lead, as MSU shot 18-of-21 from the line, while Augie shot 3-of-4. The Mavericks also pulled down 11 offensive rebounds, compared to the Vikings five offensive rebounds.
 
Sophomore forward Claire Ziegler [Mankato, Minn.] tallied nine points and three rebounds at the break, while junior point guard Britney Scherber [Bloomington, Minn.] also collected nine points and five rebounds. Freshman guard Monica Muth [Cambridge, Wis.] gave MSU a spark off the bench as she tallied six points, including 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. Senior center McKenzie Hoelmenn [Lakeville, Minn.] led the Mavericks with six rebounds at halftime.
 
Early in the third quarter, MSU used its momentum from the first half, as the Mavericks began the quarter on a 9-2 run, to give MSU a 43-38 led at the 8:02 mark. The five-point lead marked as the Mavericks largest lead of the ball game.
 
From that point on it was all Vikings in the third quarter, as they outscored the Mavericks, 32-8, to give them a, 70-51, lead heading into the fourth over the Mavericks. During the run, Augie nailed five-three pointers and forced seven MSU turnovers, which translated into 12 points off turnovers for the Vikings.
 
MSU closed Augie's lead down to 13, 70-57, to begin the fourth quarter after back-to-back 3-pointers from Scherber and junior guard Sammie Delzotto [Eagan, Minn.]. However, that was the closest the Mavericks ever got to the Vikings lead as Augie took the contest, 87-73.
 
Overall, MSU finished with a 34% field-goal percentage, including 20% (5-25) from beyond the arc, while Augie connected on 45% of its shots and ended up nailing 12 three-pointers in the win.
 
Turnovers were prevalent in the game as well, as both teams combined for 43 turnovers. MSU turned it over 23 times, as Augie was right behind with 20 of its own. The Vikings were able to take advantage of the turnovers more than the Mavericks were, as MSU was outscored 40-14 in points off turnovers.
 
Four players for the Mavericks finished in double figures, as Scherber led MSU with 16 points and five rebounds. Ziegler added 15 points of her own, along with four rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals.  Hoelmenn and Delzotto each finished with 12 points, while Hoelmenn also tallied nine boards and Delzotto grabbed six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
 
MSU will continue its homestand with a pair of NSIC games next weekend against Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston. The Mavericks will take on BSU on Friday at 6:00 p.m., before hosting UMC on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Both games will be played at Taylor Center.