MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Macalester College women's basketball team dropped a MIAC game to Augsburg College,  76-64 Wednesday night at Si Melby Hall. With the loss, the Scots are now 9-7 overall and 3-6 in the conference. The Auggies improve to 9-7, 2-7 MIAC.

Augsburg closed out the first quarter to take control with a 13-2 run to lead 19-13. Macalester opened the second quarter by outscoring the Auggies, 9-2 to briefly regain the lead, 22-21. But the hosts answered with 11 straight points, eventually taking a 35-28 advantage into halftime. Augsburg shot 45.2 percent from the field and had seven steals in the first half, while the Scots made 13-of-36 (36.1 percent) from the floor and missed all five three-point attempts.

Trailing by eight three minutes into the third quarter, Macalester took advantage of five points from junior guard Vivi Gregorich (Boulder, Colo./Boulder) that sparked a 9-0 spree to give the Scots a 41-40 edge with 5:02 on the clock. The lead changed hands three times in the quarter, with Augsburg earning a 49-46 advantage at the end of three. Macalester came within one point twice in the fourth quarter, only to have the Auggies reel off an 11-2 run that included two three-pointers from Tamira McLemore for a 66-56 lead with 3:27 left to play. The Scots never came closer than six points the rest of the way, as Augsburg closed out the win.

Junior center Regan Fruh (Helena, Mont./Helena) led Macalester with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while senior guard Lauren Clamage (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest Acad.) scored 14 points. Gregorich finished with 12 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals, while first year guard Holly Hull (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley NW) added seven points, eight boards and two assists. McLemore racked up 31 points and four steals to lead all players.

Macalester continues MIAC play with game at Gustavus Adolphus on Saturday, Jan. 21, beginning at 1:00 p.m. in St. Peter, Minn.