Box Score SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Minot State University pushed No. 23 Augustana for about 30 minutes Wednesday night.

But 30 minutes isn't enough in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – especially on the road.

The Vikings outscored the Beavers 31-21 in the second half, pushing a five-point halftime lead to as many as 21 behind solid 3-point shooting and timely offensive rebounding to knock off MISU 66-51 in a NSIC / Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament first round game at the Elmen Center.

“We really battled defensively all night long,” said MISU head coach Sheila Green Gerding. “We executed our defensive game plan very well. We just couldn't hit shots and didn't shoot the ball well from the free-throw line either. You have to applaud our effort.”

The Beavers, the fifth seed in the NSIC North, finished its first season in the NSIC with a 13-14 record. Augustana College, No. 3 NSIC South, improved to 21-6 and will advance to the second round.

Minot State played solid in the first half, leading early on behind Sacarra Molina (Sr., G, Hinsdale, Mont.) and Carly Boag (Jr., F, Tamworth, Australia) and only trailed by five at half. Boag finished  the half with 11 points and Molina, who hit her 1,000t h career point with her first basket, scored 10 in the half.

But the Beavers went cold early in the second half. And, while Augustana College didn't exactly light things up, the Vikings steadily built their lead. Minot State shot just 24.1 percent in the second half, making seven field goals. AC hit just 29 percent and 11 total shots, but hit three 3-pointers in a short span midway through the second half and added 10 offensive rebounds.

The Vikings had three players in double figures led by Emily Schulte, who hit for 15 points, added five assists and pulled down four rebounds. Shaunteva Ashley and Alex Feeney added 12 each with Feeney pulling down a team-high 10 rebounds in the win.

Minot State got another double-double from Boag as she finished a stellar junior campaign with 16 points, 10 rebounds and two steals. Francesca DeAngelis (Sr., G, Laguna Niguel, Calif.) added 15 points, six rebounds and five steals in her final game as a Beaver and Molina added 12 points and four rebounds in her final game.