It was one of those games where the final score -- Augsburg 64, Hamline 51 -- didn't come close to telling the story. 

The Piper women's basketball team battled the Auggies on even terms for 32 minutes Wednesday night at Hutton Arena. However, a 11-2 spurt early in the final quarter was too much to handle and the Pipers fell to 4-4 overall (0-2 MIAC) on the season.

Reilly Geistfeld had a big night with 16 points (including 5-for-6 from the free throw line) and eight rebounds -- game highs in both categories. Kaeli Stayer started and went 5-for-10 from the field to score 13 points and Gabby Robinson added 10 off the bench. 

HU had an excellent game on the boards, outrebounding the visitors, 40-30. 

The Pipers started slow but Geistfeld's three-pointer in the final minute of the first quarter put HU within four at 12-8 after 10 minutes. HU trailed by seven in the second stanza but rallied to get within three at 25-22 at halftime. An aggressive defense held the Auggies to just 28 per cent from the field in the first 20 minutes of play. 

In the third quarter, HU tied the game on two occasions. Later, they whittled a five point deficit to one at 40-39 by quarter's end. But the fourth proved to be fateful. 

Hamline now heads on the road to face St. Benedict in St. Joseph Saturday, December 8. Game time is 1:00 p.m.