UND (89) at Augustana (68)

Sioux roll over Vikings


By Wayne Nelson

Herald Staff Writer

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Before UND pummeled Augustana 89-68 on Friday night, Sioux coach Gene Roebuck told assistant coach Darcy Cascaes, "Maybe I should let them throw me in the pool if we win."

Was he kidding? Cascaes couldn't resist the opportunity to seize extra motivation.

"I just had to snitch that information to the players," Cascaes said.

As Roebuck approached the Sioux locker room in the Elmen Center, his players were waiting by the adjacent swimming pool. They pushed their coach to the edge but backed off at the last second.

"You can throw me in if we win a national championship," Roebuck said.

Responded senior Katie Richards: "We've already done that."

UND played much like it did last season when it rolled up a 31-1 record and its third straight NCAA Division II national title. The Sioux:

  • Were free-wheeling on offense;

  • Had a transition game that looked as good as it has all season;

  • Posted a 46-27 rebounding advantage;

  • Hit 12 of 22 three-pointers, as they shot 68 percent in the second half.

    "This was a game where everyone was on the same page, 1 through 10," Roebuck said.

    The fact that league-leading North Dakota State lost at South Dakota State Friday didn't bring that many smiles. Though they now trail the Bison by only game in the North Central Conference, the league race doesn't carry monumental importance.

    "Regardless if they win the conference or not, that doesn't mean they'll win the region," said Theresa LeCuyer, referring to the upcoming North Central Region playoffs. "We just want to play our best basketball of the season, and that's what we're doing. And what better time for us to do that?"

    Richards led the Sioux with 21 points, making four of her seven three-pointers. LeCuyer finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. She also was on the starting and receiving end of a handful of transition baskets. She also scored five transition points in the final minute of the first half.

    "That's the way we should have been playing all year," LeCuyer said.

    UND missed its first seven shots against Augustana's 2-3 zone defense but eventually shot the Vikings out of the zone. Jaime Pudenz (12 points) hit three first-half three-pointers to help stake the Sioux to a 44-33 halftime advantge.

    The Sioux also had key contributions from freshman Jenny Boll (11) and Becky Moen (9). Moen's three-pointer at 10:55 put the Sioux up 65-49. At that point, UND was shooting 70 percent for the half.

    Brittani Janssen led the Vikings with 22 points. The loss was the first at home for Augustana in 14 games this season.

    UND (89)
    Name FG FT Points
    Pudenz3-93-512
    Palbicki2-40-04
    Hoffner2-40-06
    Moen4-50-09
    Richards7-133-421
    Arndtson2-51-27
    LeCuyer5-97-917
    Boll4-83-311
    Palbicki1-20-32
    Pick0-00-00
    Totals30-5917-2689
    Augustana (68)
    Stratton3-80-07
    Meyer1-80-02
    Janssen11-160-022
    Oltmanns6-80-212
    Tendler0-73-43
    Klumper2-22-37
    Reidburn3-50-08
    Sheppard1-80-02
    Schwebach1-10-02
    Wheeler1-10-02
    Hoffman0-10-00
    Larson0-10-00
    Johnson0-00-00
    Haugland0-01-21
    Korthals0-00-00
    Rozell0-00-00
    Totals29-666-1168

    Halftime: North Dakota 44, Augustana 33.
    3-point goals: ND 12-22 (Pudenz 3-6, Richards 4-7, Moen 1-2, Hoffner 2-4, Arndtson 2-3); A 4-16 (Tendler 0-4, Stratton 1-3, Meyer 0-5, Reidburn 2-2, Larson 0-1, Klumper 1-1).
    Rebounds: ND 46 (LeCuyer 10); A 27 (Tendler 5).
    Assists: ND 21 (LeCuyer 6); A 18 (Klumper 4).
    Total fouls: ND 15, A 19.

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