SIOUX FALLS — The Dakota Wesleyan women's basketball team played Division II Augustana to a near draw in the middle two quarters, but a strong start and even better finish lifted the Vikings to a 91-67 victory on Monday night at the Sanford Pentagon.
The game counted for Augustana to bring its record to 6-5, while DWU was able to count the game as an exhibition contest, meaning it did not impact the Tigers' record.
In DWU's earlier exhibition, a 90-43 loss at South Dakota State on Dec. 15, the Jackrabbits shot 52.4% from the field and held the Tigers to 34.4% shooting. On Monday, the Vikings managed a 55.6% shooting mark, while limiting the Tigers to 37.1%.
The Vikings led 26-17 after the first quarter, but the Tigers were able to match the Vikings through much of the second and third quarters. Augustana only added three points to its lead in those 20 minutes, leaving DWU behind 64-52 after three quarters.
But in the final period, the Vikings quickly dashed any hopes of a DWU rally. Augustana grew its lead to a game-high 25 points midway through the quarter and outscored the Tigers 27-15 over the final 10 minutes.
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Avon native Lauren Sees led all scorers with 27 points, as Aislinn Duffy recorded a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double with six assists for the Vikings.
Matti Reiner scored 22 points to pace the Tigers and also had seven rebounds. Jada Campbell, Natalie Gottlob and Kaylee Kirk each notched 10 points and grabbed nine, eight and six rebounds, respectively.
DWU (12-2, 4-2 GPAC) only has Great Plains Athletic Conference contests remaining on its regular season schedule and plays the sixth of seven-straight games away from the Corn Palace against Mount Marty on Dec. 30 in Yankton.
