WINONA, Minn. – Sophomore Gabie Doud scored Winona State University's final eight points, including a go-ahead three-pointer in the final minute, as the Warriors upset No. 10 Augustana University Friday night in McCown Gymnasium, 71-67.
The triumph snaps a 10-game losing streak for the Warriors who knocked downed a season-high 12 three-pointers while looking the version of themselves that open the season with a 13-1 record.
The Warriors and Vikings traded the lead four times in the final five minutes of the contest with Doud knocking down her clutch three-pointer with 45 seconds left on the clock to give Winona a 66-64 edge. Logan O'Farrell proceeded to knot the score on the next Augustana possession with a pair of free throws.
Following a Winona State timeout, Doud struck again. This time, driving the lane and drawing a foul for a chance to complete the three-point play. Doud knocked down the free throw attempt to complete the three-point play which gave the Warriors the lead for good at 69-66. Two final free throws by Doud would seal the win.
Winona hung with the 10th-ranked team from start to finish and outscored the Vikings in the second half, 42-31.
Augustana built a seven-point lead in the first quarter, but the Warriors were resilient and didn't back down from the challenge against a team that already beat them by 20 earlier this season. Amidst an 11-5 WSU run to end the quarter, Allie Pickrain sunk back to back three-pointers to cut the Viking lead to 22-21.
The Warriors held the lead for a short time in the second quarter as Kayla Schaefer knocked down a three in transition. Midway through the frame, Alyssa Jurges hit one of her own that forced Augie to take a timeout. Following the timeout, the Warriors cooled off and the Vikings went on a nine-point run into halftime to take a 36-29 lead into the locker room.
Coming out of the break, Pickrain resumed her stroke from beyond the arc as she cut the Viking lead to three points early in the third. Augie would answer back with a couple three's of their own to build an 11-point lead. The momentum swung back to the Warriors as Doud nailed a three with 3:14 left in the quarter to cut the deficit to five points as she began her torrid stretch into the final quarter.
Doud and Pickrain combined to shoot 10-for-16 from beyond the arc to lead the Warriors. Winona State went 12-for-24 as a team from downtown. Defensively, the Warriors held Augustana to 37 percent from the field.
Doud (19), Pickrain (18), and Hannah McGlone (17) would all end the game in doubles figures in the scoring column. McGlone's 13th double-double of the year came with 13 boards and pulls her to within 22 rebounds of breaking Lisa Parsons' career record (928).
Winona State improves to 14-11 (10-11 NSIC) with the victory while Augustana falls to 22-3 (18-3 NSIC).
The Warriors will celebrate senior night tomorrow evening after the conclusion of their 4 p.m. tilt against Wayne State.
