Box Score
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Seniors Molly Etheridge (Normal Community HS, Bloomington, Ill.) and Jessica Baids (West Chicago HS, Carol Stream, Ill.) had big nights Tuesday to lead Coach Mark Beinborn's Augustana basketball team to an 80-60 win over Clarke at Carver Center. With the win, the Vikings improve to 1-2 on the year, while the Crusaders fall to 6-4.
 
Both Baids and Etheridge did most of their damage in the first half as the Vikings ran out to a 38-25 lead at the break. Etheridge had Augustana's first two baskets before Baids scored six straight points to put the hosts up 10-2. After a three-pointer by Clarke's Savannah Shepler, Baids scored her fourth consecutive field goal to give Augustana a 12-5 lead.
 
Behind six points from Breland Prochaska, the Crusaders went on a 10-2 run to grab their last lead of the night at 15-14. However, Etheridge responded with one of her five three-point field goals in the game to regain the advantage. Bonnie Boals' jumper at the 7:29 mark tied it one last time at 19-all, but a trey from freshman Olivia Mayer (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks, Ill.) broke the tie and sparked a 19-6 Augustana run to end the half.
 
Etheridge went to the break with 10 points and eight assists, while Baids hit all seven of her field goal attempts in the opening half for 14 points.
 
Four different Vikings scored in a 9-2 Augustana run to start the second half, extending the lead to 20 for the first time at 47-27. The advantage ballooned to 26 three times, twice on three-pointers by Etheridge.
 
Etheridge finished the night with 21 points, tying Prochaska for game-high honors. She also had game highs of 10 assists and four steals. Mayer added seven assists. Baids scored 17 on a perfect 8-for-8 from the field. Sophomore post Marissa Pezzopane (Addison Trail HS, Wood Dale, Ill.) added eight points and a game-high eight rebounds and junior Valerie VanRoeyen (Libertyville HS, Grayslake, Ill.) came off the bench for nine points, including a pair of treys.
 
As a team, the Vikings recorded 27 assists on 32 made field goals and shot .451 from the field. They hit eight of 23 (.348) from long range and eight of 10 (.800) from the free throw line. Augustana outrebounded the Crusaders by a 41-31 margin and was a positive five in turnovers, committing 22, but forcing 27.
 
Beinborn's crew is back at Carver Center this Saturday, November 30. The Vikings take on Webster, with tipoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m.