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Ole Women top Augsburg, win two in a row

Sarah McBroom
January 12, 2003

The St. Olaf Women?s Basketball team played a great second half and overcame a nine point halftime deficit to post a 59-51 win over Augsburg College. The win gave the Ole women back-to-back wins at home and a two-game winning streak. The Oles struggled offensively initially, shooting 21.1 percent from the field and putting only 17 points on the board, while Augsburg shot 40 percent and scored 26 points before the break. St. Olaf bounced back and went on a 17-6 run in the first seven minutes of the second half to gain the lead for the first time in the contest since they scored very first basket and led 2-0. They shot an impressive 53.1 percent from the field, scoring a total of 42 points in the half. St. Olaf also out-rebounded Augsburg 44-39, and the Auggies committed 27 turnovers under tough defensive pressure by the Oles.

"We had a big second half and our defense was the key," explained Head Coach Pat Buresh. "We started playing intense defense and it rubbed off on our offense." St. Olaf?s trapping abilities in the half-court certainly interrupted Augsburg?s offense, and the Oles had 14 steals as a team.

The Oles once again had a well balanced scoring attack. Sara Erickson (Sr. Cambridge, Minn.) and Kelly Sweeney (Jr. Oakdale, Minn.) led the way with 13 points, and Mayme Cupkie contributed 11 points, connecting on five of seven attempts from the field. Jill Johnson (Jr. Butterfield, Minn.) led the rebounding for the Oles, collecting seven offensive boards, 12 rebounds overall. Erickson had ten rebounds, to earn her first double-double of the season. Sweeney also had four assists and four steals.

Action continues for St. Olaf against Macalaster College in MIAC conference play on Wednesday, January 15 in St. Paul at 7:30 pm. They then host St. Thomas at home on Saturday, January 18 at 3:00 pm.

Contact Le Ann Finger at 507-786-3315 or finger@stolaf.edu.