Melissa Keiser (So., Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) scored 11 points and Vel Williams (Jr., St. Paul, Minn./Central HS) had 10 points, five steals and three assists for the Tommies, who broke a two-game losing streak to improve to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in MIAC play.
Augsburg remains winless at 0-8 overall, 0-5 in MIAC play. Augsburg's last victory over St. Thomas came in the 1984-85 season (Jan. 23, 1985).
Despite shooting just 28.6 percent (18-of-63) from the field, the Tommies claimed the win by taking advantage of 38 Augsburg turnovers. St. Thomas converted 26 points off turnovers, compared to 16 for Augsburg. The Tommies also converted 13 second-chance points off of 18 offensive rebounds, despite being outrebounded by Augsburg by a 49-42 margin. St. Thomas also held a substantial advantage at the free-throw line, converting 25-of-42 from the line, compared to 18-of-23 for Augsburg.
A 13-0 run over a six-minute span midway through the first half gave the Tommies the lead for good, 21-7 with 8:10 remaining in the opening stanza. St. Thomas led 32-18 at the break. An 8-0 run in the first four minutes of the second half gave the Tommies their biggest lead, 40-18.
But the Auggies clawed back into the game, using a 14-0 run to trim the advantage to just eight points, 43-35 with 8:40 left. Katie LaGrave (Fr., Okinawa, Japan/Kadena HS) had 10 of her team-high 19 points in the Auggie run.
However, the Tommie advantage never slipped below eight points the rest of the way, as the visitors hit 14 of their last 18 points from the free-throw line over the final eight minutes of play.
LaGrave led the Auggies with a career-high 19 points, her fourth-straight game in double figures. Kristina Lurken (Fr., Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo HS) scored nine points with five rebounds and three steals, and Rachel Cherry (Jr., Rosemount, Minn.) came off the bench to score seven points with nine rebounds. Rosinta Stromquist (Jr., Brooklyn Park, Minn./Robbinsdale Cooper HS) had five points and nine rebounds.
Melissa Gotchnik (So., Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS) and Molly Miller (Jr., Maple Grove, Minn.) had seven points apiece for the Tommies.
Both teams return to MIAC play on Wednesday (1/5) at 7:30 p.m., with Augsburg playing at St. Catherine and St. Thomas hosting St. Benedict.
University of St. Thomas vs Augsburg College 01/03/05 5:30 p.m. at Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn. At Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn. UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS 62, AUGSBURG COLLEGE 50 UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS (4-4, 3-2 MIAC) Erica Opdahl 5-15 9-12 19; Melissa Keiser 5-8 1-3 11; Vel Williams 2-9 5-8 10; Molly Miller 2-6 3-4 7; Melissa Gotchnik 2-11 3-8 7; Katy Slater 1-2 2-2 4; Amy Kittelson 1-5 0-0 2; Patricia Hall 0-3 2-4 2; Katie Toutant 0-2 0-1 0; Jessie Hays 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 18-63 25-42 62. AUGSBURG COLLEGE (0-8, 0-5 MIAC) Katie LaGrave 8-17 2-2 19; Kristina Lurken 3-6 3-5 9; Rachel Cherry 1-4 5-6 7; Rosinta Stromquist 0-7 5-6 5; Katie Kelsey 2-5 0-0 4; Alissa Blood 1-4 0-0 3; Amy Kelvie 0-3 2-2 2; Hannah Bratzel 0-2 1-2 1; Lia Ragozzino 0-1 0-0 0; Missy Larson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 15-50 18-23 50. University of St. Thomas...... 32 30 - 62 Augsburg College.............. 18 32 - 50 3-point goals-University of St. Thomas 1-12 (Vel Williams 1-4; Melissa Keiser 0-2; Melissa Gotchnik 0-3; Amy Kittelson 0-2; Jessie Hays 0-1), Augsburg College 2-14 (Katie LaGrave 1-6; Alissa Blood 1-4; Rosinta Stromquist 0-1; Katie Kelsey 0-1; Amy Kelvie 0-1; Kristina Lurken 0-1). Fouled out--University of St. Thomas-None, Augsburg College-Amy Kelvie; Kristina Lurken; Alissa Blood. Rebounds-University of St. Thomas 42 (Erica Opdahl 8), Augsburg College 49 (Rachel Cherry 9; Rosinta Stromquist 9). Assists-University of St. Thomas 12 (Katy Slater 5), Augsburg College 10 (Katie Kelsey 2; Kristina Lurken 2; Alissa Blood 2). Total fouls-University of St. Thomas 17, Augsburg College 28. A-53.