Augsburg vs Anoka-Ramsey Scrimmage Recap 10-29-15

Hurried out to Anoka-Ramsey after getting home from work to take in this scrimmage between visiting Augsburg and Anoka-Ramsey.  This would be my first look at the Auggies under new Head Coach Ted Riverso so I was quite interested to get a look at them and their new players as well.  For Anoka-Ramsey, I wanted to see how well they could recover after battling Macalester on the previous night.  I got settled in in the final three minutes of the first ten minute scrimmage and, without any score being displayed I had no idea how the first scrimmage went.

The second scrimmage of the evening proved to be a battle of the post players.  Golden Ram sophomore Daron Mainville helped Anoka-Ramsey draw first blood with 9:14 left when she muscled inside for a score and the Auggies struggled a bit early on in their offensive sets.  But two lanky freshmen finally helped Augsburg get untracked:  Carlee Kobow connected with a lay-up with 7:26 left and then Megan Quam got into the paint for another score with 6:54 left that gave the Auggies a 4-2 lead.  Mainville would answer for the Golden Rams with 6:23 left when she connected with a tough shot off the glass that knotted the issue at 4-all but the Kobow/Quam duo then propelled Augsburg on a decisive 6-0 burst.  Kobow snared an offensive rebound for a putback with 4:36 left and then Quam sneaked into the paint for another score with 3:56 left.  The Auggies then took advantage of some sloppy ball handling by Anoka-Ramsey and got into a transition opportunity that was finished off by a Kobow lay-up with 3:20 left for a 10-4 Augsburg lead.  A Kobow free throw with 1:52 left maintained that six-point cushion at 11-5 before the Golden Rams made one last gasp in the form of a "3" from the right top area by sophomore guard Laya Sath with just :02 left that had me tallying the final score at 11-8 in favor of Augsburg.

The final ten minute scrimmage of the night featured running time to speed things along.  But Kobow picked up right where she left off when the nightcap got underway.  With 9:09 left she slithered into the paint for a score and got fouled in the process and her free throw promptly gave the Auggies a 3-0 lead.  Anoka-Ramsey still had difficulty getting the ball inside as Augsburg did a very good job of clogging up the middle.  Sath was able to get the Golden Rams on the board with her free throw with 7:45 left but that would be as close as Anoka-Ramsey could get in this one.  Auggie freshman guard Alaina Quaranta's free throw got the lead back to three with 7:16 remaining and the score stayed 4-1 Augsburg for the next six minutes.  Auggie junior guard Erin Bolden finally dusted the cobwebs off the net with her offensive rebound for a putback with 1:07 left for a 6-1 Augsburg lead.  Anoka-Ramsey would get its only field goal in this one with :49 left and two late Auggie scores; capped by a lay-up by Kobow with just :03 left made the final in this one 10-3 Augsburg.

Riverso was quick to admit afterward that a LOT of work remains for his squad before the start of the regular season.  The Auggies currently have five players who are currently involved in other sports and senior guard Jenna Orth is dealing with some concussion issues at the moment.  Presumably, however, once those hurdles are cleared, this Auggie squad should be a good one.  Another important piece to the puzzle was added this last summer when former Rogers and Anoka-Ramsey standout Maria Loughlin transferred to Augsburg after spending one season at UM-Crookston.