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Oles Lose Play-off Hopes in Loss to Auggies

Jason Welle
February 13, 2001

In its final home contest of the season, the St. Olaf College women?s basketball team dropped a close one to Augsburg College 58-56. In a game where neither team shot well, free throws became paramount in the second half. The Auggies made only 5 of 17 from the charity stripe after the break but the Oles had some problems as well. With 2.3 seconds left in the game and the Oles down by two, Elisa Hatlevig (Sr., Rushford, Minn.) stepped to the line for two free throws. She missed the first, forcing her to intentionally miss the second in hopes of a rebound and a second chance. The ball didn?t drop the Oles? way and Augsburg escaped with a two-point victory.

St. Olaf led for most of the first half where both teams shot poorly. The Oles had a ten-point lead at one point, but Augsburg gradually whittled it down as play continued. Led by Jamie Kingsley?s 9 points in the half, the Auggies cut the deficit to 3 when the half ended with the Oles taking a 30-27 score into intermission.

Augsburg wasted no time in the second half, scoring on four of their first five possessions and took a lead they would hold for most of the half. Hampered by a continued drought from the field but aided by Augsburg?s free throw woes, St. Olaf stayed in the game and tied it up in the final minutes. The two teams battled down to the wire before Hatlevig?s miss sealed the game for the visiting Auggies.

Augsburg?s Kingsley led all scorers, making 8 of 14 from the field for 20 points. Hatlevig led the Ole charge, scoring 12 points on 5 of 9 shooting. Lisa Eidenschink (So., Detroit Lakes, Minn.) added a double-double for St. Olaf, grabbing 10 rebounds and making a perfect 6 for 6 from the free throw line in scoring 10 points. Lori Enlund (FY, Bloomington, Ill.) added eight points and Liz Woodrow (Jr., Aitkin, Minn.) and Cara Battles (Jr., McGregor, Minn.) chipped in seven.

Because Hatlevig is the only senior on St. Olaf?s squad, Monday?s game at Skoglund Gymnasium was dubbed "E Day" rather than "Senior Day." Ole coach Pat Buresh and junior co-captain Liz Woodrow recognized Hatlevig?s contributions to the program in a short ceremony before the game. Hatlevig has lettered all four years at St. Olaf and captained the team the last two years.

St. Olaf falls to 9-13 overall, 7-12 in the MIAC. The loss drops the Oles out of contention for the 6-team MIAC playoff, as they needed a victory over Augsburg to stay alive. St. Olaf travels to St. Paul to play the College of St. Catherine on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. before it closes its season at Carleton on February 17th. The Oles will fight to earn a season split with their red-hot cross-town rivals in the 1:00 game. Augsburg?s victory boosts their mark to 8-11 in league play, 10-12 overall. The Auggies playoff hopes are still alive if they win their closing games against Bethel and Gustavus.

Contact Pat Buresh at 507-786-3315 or buresh@stolaf.edu.