SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Minot State University gave up big runs at the start of each half.

The Beavers rallied from the slow start in the first half, but didn't have an answer for the second one.

Augustana University outscored Minot State 30-19 in the third quarter to break open a close game and pull away for a 96-75 win in the first round of the NSIC / Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament Wednesday at the Sioux Falls Arena.

"I'm very proud of our effort tonight," said MSU head coach Sheila Green Gerding. "Their fire power was just a bit too much to overcome. We left it all on the court and played our hearts out."

Minot State, which finished the season at 11-18 overall, trailed by 13 points in the first quarter, but went on a run late in the quarter to trail by just four 26-22 after one quarter.

It stayed close throughout the second quarter as well as MSU continued to lock down Augie on defense after the big early spurt. MSU got it to as few as three as Kori Eurich (Jr., G, Pueblo, Colo.) knocked down a 3 on the Beavers first possession in the second half.

But the Vikings (22-7) took off from there. Augie outscored MSU 28-11 over the next nine minutes to take a 70-50 lead with just over a minute to go in the third quarter.

Augustana University had five players in double figures as Nichole Kerkhoff scored 18 points and Logan O'Farrell added 17. Sydney Rome finished with a double-double as she scored 12 points and added 10 rebounds in the win.

MSU got 21 points from redshirt freshman Kari Clements (G, Trevor, Wis.) to go along with three rebounds and an assist.

The Beavers trio of seniors Sarah Lester (F, Frenchtown, Mont.), Savana Kingsbury (F, Omaha, Neb.) and Amanda Sansaver (G, Wolf Point, Mont.) finished strong as they combined for 24 points, 24 rebounds and 12 assists. Lester finished with 16 points and added seven rebounds, Kingsbury pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds to go along with eight points and eight assists and Sansaver dished out three assists and four rebounds in their final games with MSU.

"Sarah had a terrific first half and Kari had a great game," Green Gerding added. "Savana was very good defensively and on the board. We attacked and played well."

About Minot State
Minot State University is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and NCAA Division II offering 14 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletics programs. The NSIC is a premier NCAA DII, 16-member conference featuring teams in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. The Beavers are the only public NCAA Division II institution in the state of North Dakota.