SIOUX FALLS S.D. (Augie PR) — A 17-0 run in the second quarter gave the Augustana women’s basketball team the edge it needed to surpass Bemidji State, 75-56, in the first round of the NSIC Tournament at the Sanford Pentagon.
Augustana will face St. Cloud State in the quarterfinals of the NSIC tournament on Sunday in the Pentagon, with tip-off slated for 8:00 p.m.
A familiar performance defensively by the senior trio of Hana Beyer, Abby Hora, and McKenzee Zilverberg totaled eight steals and 11 rebounds helped lift the Vikings throughout the game.
Freshman Aislinn Duffy scored first with a scooping layup before Beyer grabbed a steal setting junior Hannah Mitby up for a fast break layup. Hora got on the scoreboard by scoring two-consecutive baseline layups to bring the score to 8-4 Augustana with 8:10 to go in the first.
After a drought of almost four minutes ensued, Mitby was able to find her way back into the paint for a basket making the score 10-6. Freshman Lizzy Karp made her presence known in the paint scoring two consecutive baskets for the Vikings with 1:59 to go in the first.
Sophomore Janelle Shiffler wasted no time after checking in, coming away with a steal that led to a fast break to put Augustana up by three. Augustana finished the quarter presenting solid defense giving Bemidji no quality looks to score as time expired leading 18-17.
Augustana came out to a hot start in the second quarter, compliments of Beyer doing the dirty work by recording an offensive rebound and a steal in two-consecutive plays leading to baskets in the paint by Mitby.
Mitby found another basket in the lane the following possession giving her six unanswered points, which allowed the lead to swell to 24-17 before Bemidji was forced to take a timeout with 7:36 left in the second quarter.
Senior McKenzee Zilverberg then joined in on the action, getting two consecutive assists finding open shooters of Beyer and Hora, who both connected on 3-point baskets. A Mitby steal led to her getting fouled on the fastbreak, connecting on both shots. The Beavers were able to find their first points of the quarter with 3:49 to go in the second quarter when the score was 35-19.
The final minutes of the second quarter brought a barrage of 3-pointers where Karp found space at the top of the key and let one fly. Gartner of Bemidji answered with a three of her own. The next possession, Shiffler found the back of the net from three as well, making the score 45-29.
Bemidji State attempted to hold for the last shot of the quarter, when junior Izzy Van Veldhuizen came away with a steal that led to a fast break by Lauren Sees. Compliments to Beyer on the assist to close the first half with Augustana up by 19.
Mitby gave Augustana the first points of the second half, finding her iconic scoop shot on the block to extend the lead to 21. Bemidji State then went on to score four unanswered points to shrink the Vikings lead to 17.
Duffy then went on a run of her own, scoring five unanswered points to bring the Vikings lead back to 21. A steal by Beyer led to a 3-pointer by Zilverberg with 4:26 to go.
The Vikings ended the third quarter by blocking a 3-point shot attempt when Shiffler got a hand on the ball while leading 67-41.
Zilverberg got the Vikings going in the fourth quarter by fighting through traffic to get a layup with 6:18 to go. She had good help-defense getting back-to-back steals late in the fourth, one led to a Beyer jumper on the elbow making the score 71-51 Augustana.
The Vikings continued to run away with the game with the final score showing 75-56 in favor of the home team.
Augustana finished the game shooting 49.1 percent from the field, and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc. Two Vikings scored in double digits with Mitby having 19 and Shiffler having 13. Seven other players scored for Augustana. Bemidji State shot 35.3 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep.
