Box Score An efficient second half was the key as Augustana dented the win column in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin for the first time in 2013-14 with a 101-91 victory over North Central on Wednesday, January 15 in the Carver Center. The Vikings shot .525 (21-40) in the second half and outrebounded the visitors 33-13 during that same time frame to help secure the win.
 
Augustana trailed 45-41 at halftime but outscored North Central 60-46 in the second half to win going away. After shooting just .372 (16-43) from the field in the first 20 minutes, the Vikings connected on 21-40 shots from the floor in the decisive second half.
 
With 6:19 left in the game, Augustana led by just a single point (79-78) but Augustana scored the next six points to go ahead 85-78 with 4:24 remaining after a basket by senior Chaney Tambling (Dwight HS, Dwight, Ill.). The Vikings closed the game on a 22-13 run over that decisive 6:19 time period.
 
Senior Molly Etheridge (Normal Community HS, Bloomington, Ill.) dropped 27 points to lead the Vikings and she was a scorching 13 of 14 from the free throw line. She hauled in nine rebounds with four assists and three steals. Four other Augustana players were in double figures in scoring with Tambling adding 14 with a game high 13 rebounds. Senior Amy Hicks (Rockford Christian HS, Rockford, Ill.) hit for 12 points with 11 rebounds, two assists, one blocked shot and one steal. Sophomore Andrea McNally (Hinsdale South HS, Burr Ridge, Ill.) had 11 points and 10 rebounds and sophomore Maddie Kerr (Elgin St. Edward's Catholic HS, Streamwood, Ill.) had 10 points.
 
Freshman Olivia Mayer (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks, Ill.) had nine points and a game-high nine assists and also added six steals and grabbed six rebounds. Sophomore Marissa Pezzopane (Addison Trail HS, Wood Dale, Ill.) had eight points with a game-high three blocked shots.
 
North Central was led in scoring by Lauren Hernandez with 14 points while Sofia Svensson pulled down 13 rebounds. The Cardinals stayed in the game thanks to a 18 of 40 performance (.450) from three point range.
 
Augustana shot 38 free throws in the contest and made 27 for .711 percent. After the big deficit in rebounding in the first half, the Vikings ended up winning the battle of the boards 58-48.
 
Augustana is now 5-10 overall and 1-3 in the CCIW while North Central fell to 8-7 overall and 1-3 in league play. The Vikings will host North Park on Saturday, January 18 at 5:00 p.m. in the Carver Center.