Box Score Sioux Falls, S.D. — Riding a three-game winning streak, the University of Mary (11-6, 6-5 NSIC) knew they would have their hands full as they traveled to Sioux Falls to take on #12 Augustana College (13-2, 9-2 NSIC).  Down eight at intermission, Augustana went on an 11-2 run to open the second half as U-Mary fell 71-59.
 
Making her first career start, Brittney Dietz was U-Mary's top performer.  Dietz played a team-high 34 minutes and scored 14 points without committing a turnover. The redshirt freshman also added four rebounds and three assists.
 
Named First Team All-NSIC a year ago, Alex Feeney proved why Friday night.  Feeney, a Bismarck native, notched her third consecutive double double. The 6-0 post scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Feeney has now scored in double figures in 11 straight games.
 
With two of the top three pointing shooting teams in the nation squaring off, the game saw 44 combined attempts. U-Mary held a distinct advantage connecting on 9-21 of their attempts compared to Augustana's 6-23. The Vikings, however, outshot the Marauders 38-32 percent from the field.
 
In the first half U-Mary jumped out to a five-point lead early in the game as Shaunna Knife nailed a three pointer from teammate Ali Collins. Augustana responded with a 7-0 run to take a 16-13 lead with 13:06 to go in the period. The Marauders would battle back to tie the game at 33-33 on a three from Kelsey Peltier, but the Vikings controlled the period and went into the break leading 41-33.
 
Entering the second half the Marauders were within striking distance. An 11-2 run by Augustana extended their lead to 17 and put the U-Mary away early. The closest the Marauders were able to close the gap to the rest of the way was 11 as the Vikings cruised to a 71-59 victory.
 
Augustana took advantage of the fastbreak as they held a 17-6 advantage in scoring. The Vikings also controlled the paint outrebounding the Marauders 52-41 and outscoring them 33-22 from inside.
 
Knife led the Marauders in scoring with 15 points. After scoring in double figures once in the first six games of Northern Sun play, Knife has now scored 10 or more in U-Mary's last six NSIC contests.
 
U-Mary will be put the test again tomorrow as they take on their second straight ranked opponent. At 4PM the Marauders will take on the #22 Wildcats of Wayne State College.