NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Visiting Augsburg University used an early 16-0 run to take a 23-7 lead after one quarter and went on to record its sixth-straight victory to open conference play by defeating the St. Olaf College women's basketball team, 71-52, on Saturday afternoon at Skoglund Center.

Augsburg (6-3, 6-0 MIAC) was 5-for-9 from behind the arc in the opening quarter and scored 16-straight points after St. Olaf (3-4, 2-4 MIAC) scored the first basket of the game. The Auggies led by as many as 22-4 in the first quarter and did not see their lead dip below 10 points the rest of the way.

After a putback by first year Sophia Kormann accounted for the first points of the game, Augsburg held St. Olaf to two points until junior Sophie Olmen hit a three-pointer with 1:41 to go in the quarter to make it a 22-7 game. Jaley Coplin was 3-for-5 from behind the arc for her nine first-quarter points, while Grace Eastman connected on two of her three attempts from three-point range early on.

Junior Rachel Kelly scored eight of her 10 first-half points in the second quarter, but the Auggies continued to knock down shots, going 7-for-12 from the field to push their lead to 42-19 at the half. The Oles crept within 10, 23-13, by scoring the first six points of the quarter on a three-point play by Kelly and a three-pointer by first year Paige Yagodinski, but that was close as St. Olaf got.

First year Sarah Tangen was 3-for-5 from the field, including 2-for-3 from behind the arc, in the second half, scoring all eight of her points off the bench in the third quarter. The Oles outscored the Auggies, 33-29, in the second half but could not overcome the 23-point halftime deficit.

Jen Masello paced Augsburg with a game-high 16 points, seven rebounds, four blocks, two assists, and two steals, shooting 6-for-10 from the field. Three other Auggies were in double figures, with Coplin adding 14, Anja Smith contributing a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double off the bench, and Kalena Myers pitching in with 10 points.

Kelly had a team-high 10 points for St. Olaf and pulled down seven rebounds in the loss. Tangen and Yagodinski each poured in eight points off the bench.

The Oles host the Country Inn & Suites Holiday Classic on Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 29-30. St. Olaf opens the tournament against Carthage on Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. before taking on Dubuque the following day at 1 p.m.