SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The No. 8 Winona State women's basketball team closed the regular season with a 69-59 win over Augustana Saturday night at Sioux Falls Arena.

After the win, the Warriors (27-2, 19-2 NSIC) officially earned the program's first NSIC regular season championship and the league announced it earned the No. 1 seed in the South Division when the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament begins play Wednesday. The Warriors will host Bemidji State at 6 p.m. in McCown Gymnasium as part of a doubleheader, as the Winona State men's basketball team will be in action following the women's game. WSU earned a 65-56 road win over the Beavers earlier this season.

The Warriors were led by Tara Roelofs, who scored a game-high 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting – including a 4-of-8 mark from 3-point range. Connor Nagle also hit four 3-pointers, grabbed eight rebounds and picked up five assists to finish with 14 points.

Kayla Timmerman also finished in double figures, matching Nagle with 14 points with seven rebounds and three assists, four blocks and three steals.

The Warriors superb defense was on display again, holding the Vikings to just 31.4 percent shooting (22-of-70) and just 5-of-32 (15.6 percent) from 3-point range. The Warriors, meanwhile, were efficient from long distance, connection on 12 of the team's 27 attempts (44.4 percent). Rebounding was relatively even, with the Warriors holding a slight 39-38 advantage.

WSU jumped out to a fast start like it's done throughout the season, with Alexis Foley giving the Warriors their first lead on a 3-pointer midway through the first quarter to take a 7-5 lead and never looked back, as Nagle hit one as well on the next possession and a 16-2 run capped off with two straight triples from Roelofs made it 18-7 late in the first quarter before leading 23-15 after one.

The Vikings cut the lead to seven on a pair of occasions but wouldn't get any closer, as WSU rebuilt a double digit lead by halftime with a 38-25 advantage.

Roelofs and senior Emily Passint opened the second half with back-to-back triples to open a commanding 44-25 advantage to set the tone for the remainder of the game, as Winona State led by digits throughout the third quarter. The Vikings made a late run, again cutting the lead to seven points at 62-55, but with under two minutes to play, as the Warriors put the game away with free throw shooting to earn the 69-59 win.