The Augustana women's basketball team is one win away from playing for a national championship, as the Vikings routed the #1 team in the country Tuesday afternoon in San Antonio, in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Tournament, downing Clayton State (GA) 81-68.

Clayton State opened the game with four straight points and played with an aggressive style that led to 15 first half Augustana turnovers.

But after trailing by as many as six points, the Vikings began to climb back in it, as Alex Feeney's nine first half points keyed a 29-16 run for Augie, giving them a 32-25 lead at the break.

Augustana picked up right where they left off when the second half started, as the Vikings scored 11 of the first 12 points, led by five from Emily Schulte, to give Augie a 17-point cushion with 16:39 left.

That advantage ballooned to 23 moments later, as Shaunteva Ashley hit for seven points over a 3:30 stretch, and Augie was up 56-33.

The Lakers did find their shooting touch in the final five minutes and turn up the defensive pressure to close to within seven points, but Augustana hit free throws down the stretch to preserve the win, despite turning the ball over 32 times.

Ashley led the scoring with 17 points, All-American Drameka Griggs had 23 for Clayton State, which had won its last 17 games by 13 points or more coming in.

Augie shot a blistering 53%, nailing 10 three-pointers, while holding the eighth most accurate shooting team in the nation to just 32% from the floor. 

The Vikings now play the Dowling - Colorado Mesa game in Wednesday's 7:00pm semifinal.

 

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