St. Catherine Wildcats Defeat Augsburg Auggies 73-60 in MIAC Matchup
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Despite a strong offensive showing from Sydney Hazuga, the Augsburg University women’s basketball team fell to St. Catherine University 73-60 on Saturday, February 8, at the Butler Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The loss drops the Auggies to 5-16 overall and 2-12 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), while the Wildcats improve to 11-10 overall and 6-8 in conference play.
Turnovers Prove Costly for Augsburg
A key factor in the outcome was Augsburg’s struggle with ball control, committing a total of 23 turnovers that translated into 24 points for St. Catherine. While the Auggies’ defense managed to record eight steals and generate 20 points off turnovers, it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit created by their offensive miscues. “Turnovers really hurt us today,” a team spokesperson acknowledged. “We need to be more careful with the ball and make smarter decisions.”
Wildcats Dominate the Paint
St. Catherine established a significant advantage in the paint, outscoring Augsburg 44-20. This interior dominance proved crucial in securing the home victory for the Wildcats. The Auggies attempted to counter with a perimeter-focused attack, but ultimately couldn’t match St. Catherine’s efficiency inside.
Hazuga Shines in Defeat
Despite the team’s overall struggles, Sydney Hazuga delivered a standout performance, scoring a season-high 22 points, including six 3-pointers. This marked her seventh double-figure scoring game in the last 11 outings. Early in the first quarter, Hazuga’s shooting helped Augsburg keep pace with St. Catherine, narrowing the gap with a 3-pointer at 2:43.
The first quarter saw Augsburg connect on four 3-pointers, with Tyliah Frazier initiating a scoring response and Maecee Alexander bringing the Auggies within one point before St. Catherine regained control, leading 20-16 at the end of the period.
Augsburg continued to fight in the second quarter, with Hazuga hitting a crucial 3-pointer with just four seconds remaining, assisted by Wakinyela Bear. However, the Auggies were outscored 14-12 in the quarter, entering halftime with a 34-28 deficit.
The third quarter saw Augsburg attempt a quick offensive push, again led by Hazuga’s 3-point shooting. Despite the efforts of Saylor Gallagher, who secured a season-best 10 rebounds, just one shy of her career record, St. Catherine capitalized on Augsburg’s turnovers and extended their lead to 55-41.
In the fourth quarter, Gallagher contributed a layup and a free throw, closing the gap to 44-55. Hazuga added two more 3-pointers, but St. Catherine maintained a steady lead, ultimately securing the 73-60 victory.
Key Player Performances
Beyond Hazuga’s impressive offensive display, Gallagher’s rebounding performance was a bright spot for Augsburg. Melanie Delestrez also contributed with 9 rebounds and 1 steal.
For St. Catherine, Jordyn Peed led the scoring with 18 points, along with 3 steals and 4 rebounds. Lily Peper added 17 points, 3 steals, and 5 rebounds, while Hattie Fox contributed 10 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds.
Looking Ahead
Augsburg University will look to rebound as they host Saint Mary’s University on Wednesday, February 11, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. at Si Melby Hall in Minneapolis. .
