Winona, Minn. -- Despite a cold shooting first half, Winona State was down just three points at the break and took their first lead of the game with a minute to go in a battle with Augustana University which was decided in overtime on Friday, Jan. 22.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, their best effort of the season fell just short in the end, as Augustana (4-3 / 3-2 NSIC) outlasted Winona State (0-4 / 0-3 NSIC) in OT, beating WSU 81-79 in the first of two games between the teams. 

Playing in McCown Gymnasium, home of WNB Financial Court for the first time in three weeks, the Warriors were just 4-of-19 in the first 10 minutes of the game, but a strong foul-line performance saw Winona State hang with the Vikings on the scoresheet, as WSU hit 11-of -14 free throws in the first half. 

WSU was without Taylor Hustad in the contest, but Sydney Lodermeier stepped up with 16 points for Winona State to lead her team, while Caitlyn Riley and Emily Kieck also helped fill the scoring gap, with 10 and 12 points, respectively. 

Emma Fee was the top rebounder on the day for WSU, grabbing ten boards in 32 minutes of action, while Kieck notched four assists.  Jenna Bruss was perfect at the foul line with a 6-for-6 performance. 

Augustana was paced by Lauren Sees who scored 22 to lead all players, going 8-for-17 from the floor while also grabbing four boards. Winona State held Izzy Van Veldhuizen to a single - but game changing - basket from the floor, but sent her to the foul line frequently, where the Vikings leader was 9-for-10 from the stripe.  Two Augustana players, Hannah Mitby and Aislin Duffy, grabbed 10 rebounds each, and were an integral part of the Augustana 51-44 rebounding advantage over WSU. 

Coming out of the break, head coach Scott Ballard and his team wore down Augustana in the third period to claw back and find themselves within striking distance late in the fourth quarter.

Jenna Bruss hit two free throws with 36 seconds to go in the game and Emily Kieck added one with 23 ticks for a three point Warrior lead late, but it was Van Veldhuizen's three pointer with seven seconds to go that brought Auggie level with the Warriors and forced overtime. Van Veldhuizen's hoop came off an assist from Lauren Sees, her only helper of the night after scoring 22 points.  The unlikely role reversal was enough to snuff out the Warriors hopes for a regulation win. 

In OT, the two teams traded baskets in open play almost evenly, but Augustana earned eight trips to the foul line in the extra stanza, connecting on seven to seal the win.  For the game, Augustana played with the lead for almost 90% of the contest and had a 14-point cushion midway through the third. Both teams had sub-par shooting night, with Augustana's 38.9% effort just slightly better than Winona State at 32.9%. Rebounding and points down low were key on a night where first shots were not falling, and Augustana's 36-26 paint point production advantage and ten rebound margin, as well as Van Veldhuizen's gutsy triple with seven seconds to go, pushed the Warriors to 0-4 on the year. 

Winona State and Augustana will return to action tomorrow, with a 2pm tipoff. 

For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit: www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.

---

About Winona State University Athletics: 

The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words: Graduate Champions.  

Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).  Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.

Media Contact: Pete Watkins, Director of Athletic Communications | Ph: 507.457.5577 | Email: pwatkins@winona.edu