SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Golden Bears women's basketball team (4-3, 0-1 NSIC) dropped their first conference match of the season on the road Friday night to Augustana (7-2, 2-0 NSIC) by a score of 64-50.

Concordia was led by Anna Schmitt who scored a game-high 21 points and Lauren Shifflett who tallied 10 points in the loss. Kyrah Fredenburg pulled in a game-high 13 rebounds, 10 of which came in the first quarter and Caitlyn Russell pulled in 10 rebounds and added eight points off the bench. Mishayla Jones added seven points and tallied a team-high four assists.
 
The Golden Bears got off to great start to the game only trailing at one point and leading after the first frame 11-8. Schmitt and Shifflett scored all 11 points for CSP in the first quarter, seven to Schmitt and four to Shifflett.
 
In the second quarter, the Concordia began with a 6-0 run to give them a 15-8 lead just two and half minutes in, but then Augustana responded with a 13-2 run to take a 23-17 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the quarter. Following the run by the Vikings, CSP then used a 9-2 run to close out the quarter and take a 26-25 lead heading into the locker room.
 
Both teams struggled shooting from the floor in the first half as CSP shot 33.3 percent and AU shot 29.4 percent in the first 20 minutes of play. Anna Schmitt, however, went 5-8 from the field in the first half and 1-2 from downtown to finish with 11 first half points. Shelby Selland led Augustana with eight first half points and five rebounds.
 
To begin the third quarter both teams were trading baskets and the lead kept changing sides and at the 6:07 mark, Schmitt would hit a jumper to tie the game at 31 and the following possession Schmitt would give the lead back to CSP off a three-point basket. However, that would be the last time Concordia would lead as Augustana outscored the Golden Bears 15-2 the remainder of the quarter to take a 46-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
AU would end up outscoring CSP, 21-10 in the third quarter.
 
In the final quarter of play, Shifflett would drain a three-pointer to get the scoring going in the four quarter and cut the Auggie lead to just seven but following a timeout by the Vikings, Hana Metoxen would answer with a three-pointer of her own to regain the double-digit lead.
 
From there Augustana would build their lead making it too much for CSP to make a comeback. The Vikings would reach their biggest lead of the game of 17 on two occasions in the final frame of play.
 
Twelve of Auggie's 18 fourth quarter points came in the paint as they finished 40 points in the paint for the night. CSP finished with 24 points in the paint and tallied 19 points off turnovers.
 
Augustana was led by Naomi Rust who scored a team-high 12 points, while Logan O'Farrell added 11 points and six rebounds and Shelby Selland rounded out the double-digit scoring with 10 points and pulled in a team-high eight rebounds and two blocks.
 
The Golden Bears return to action tomorrow as they continue to NSIC play at Wayne State (Neb.). Game time is set for 4 pm.