Hamline vs Augsburg Synopsis 2-1-12

Was over at Augsburg's Si Melby Hall on this Wednesday evening to catch their big home tilt against always-dangerous Hamline as the Auggies were trying desperately to keep their fading playoff hopes alive. 

The Auggies got off to a good start in this one; as seniors Lexi Thompson and Nikki Borkhuis propelled them to a quick 6-0 lead by the 18:39 mark.  Thompson would get the Auggies to a 10-2 lead by the 17:00 minute mark with her drive and finish inside (never could figure out just how she can do that) before Hamline finally gut untracked.  Junior Steph Pilgrim, a standout at Anoka-Ramsey, nailed a "3" from the right wing and then senior Stephanie Rice scored inside at the 15:14 mark that helped breathe life into the Pipers hopes.  After Pilgrim was able to score inside at the 13:47 mark, it was then time for freshman phenom Jordan Sammons to strut her stuff.  She scored on a lay-up with 13:18 left and after a Pilgrim free throw Sammons then nailed a "3" from the left corner at the 12:19 mark that cut the once big Auggie lead down to only 16-15.  The Auggies would then wake up and increase that advantage somewhat coming down the stretch of the first half  but Hamline did grab a brief 28-26 lead when sophomore Je'Naya Brown connected with a long "2" from the top with just under a minute remaing but sophomore Kendra Ware's free throw and a clutch "3" by freshman Abbey Luger from the left wing just before the buzzer enabled the Auggies to take a slim 30-28 lead into the locker room at the half.

The opening minutes of the second half saw things remain close.  Junior Brittany Zins was getting some opportunites doing her usual dirty work inside but Hamline responded when freshman Rachel Usgaard hit a jumper at the 14:59 mark that cut the Auggie advantage to 34-33.  But it was at this point as well where Augsburg was able to make its decisive run.  Zins scored inside and got fouled in the process at the 14:36 mark and the ensuing freebie made it 37-33 Auggies.  Senior forward Brittany Dyshaw also made one freebie after being fouled a bit later and then used her lanky body to score inside at the 8:41 mark  for a 43-35 Auggie lead.  Another dagger from behind the arc by Luger at the 7:27 mark gave the Auggies a double-digit lead that they would never relinquish.    Senior PG Serenae Levine then finished in transition with 4:44 left and gave Augsburg a 48-35 advantage.  At this stage of the game, Hamline was frustrated and a questionable call on a ball that went out of bounds drew Hamline Head Coach Kerri Stockwell's ire as she was "T'd up" with 3:34 left that pretty much sealed the Piper's fate.  The Auggies would go on to win this one by a final count of 57-42 that helped keep their slim playoff hopes alive.