Slick-shooting Augustana outlasts Pack

By Anthony Sandstrom

Slick-shooting Augustana outlasts Pack

PUEBLO, Colo. - Number-19 Augustana lived up to its ranking Saturday night, shooting 59 percent from the field and getting a second consecutive double-double from Ashley Holiday to get an 87-78 win, handing the Pack its first loss of the season.

The ThunderWolves (5-1) only held one early lead in the tightly contested game, but never let the Vikings build a lead larger than nine points. Unfortunately for the Pack, every time they got close enough to strike and perhaps take the lead, Augustana stepped up with big shots.

Late in the first half, the ThunderWolves turned around Augustana's 36-29 advantage to go on a 9-2 run, getting threes by point guards Kaylon Miller and Rachel Espinoza, to tie the game at 38 with 3:17 remaining in the game. Augustana responded by hitting five of their next six field goals, enough to stay just a few steps ahead of the Pack and take a 48-44 lead into halftime.

In the second half, Augustana built on that advantage, starting out the half outscoring the Pack 12-7 and extending their lead, 60-51, leaving the ThunderWolves searching for a big shot throughout in attempts to trim the lead.

The ThunderWolves seemed to get that shot with two minutes left in the game, when Mary Rehfeld drilled a three to bring the ThunderWolves to within two, 80-78.

But like they had done all game long, Augustana made sure the Pack's advance stopped there. And it literally did.

Forced to foul their way out of the disadvantage, the Vikings scored the game's final seven points to win 87-78.

Despite the loss, the ThunderWolves' effort was nothing to ignore. The Pack shot a respectable .448, and was an amazing 13-for-19 from beyond the arc, a .684 percentage. They even played relatively mistake-free, only committing 11 turnovers and only committed 13 fouls throughout the game. Three of those 13 fouls occurred within the game's last minute, when the ThunderWolves had to commit a throwaway foul to force the Vikings to the line.

The ThunderWolves will attempt to build off this game next week when Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play begins with road matchups with Regis and UC-Colorado Springs next Friday and Saturday nights.