Box Score NAPERVILLE, Ill. – North Central used a strong second half to defeat Augustana 97-85 in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin action on Wednesday, January 29 in Naperville, Illinois. The Vikings led 37-32 at halftime but the home-standing Cardinals outscored Augustana 65-48 in the final 20 minutes of action.
 
With 1:04 left in the first half the game was the Vikings trailed 32-31 but they closed with a 6-0 run to take a 37-32 lead into intermission. Sophomore Andrea McNally (Hinsdale South HS, Burr Ridge, Ill.) hit a layup at the buzzer to complete the run.
 
In the second half Augustana led by seven (42-35) with 18:56 left after a basket by senior Chaney Tambling (Dwight HS, Dwight, Ill.). North Central tied it at 16:12 (46-46) and with 13:09 left the Cardinal lead was 10 points (58-48), thanks to a 23-6 run.
 
The Vikings were not through, however, and when Tambling hit a pair of free throws at 8:50, the score was tied 66-66 as Augustana went on an 18-8 run. North Central bumped things back to 10 points (78-68) at 6:14 but the visitors narrowed the gap to three (78-75) at 5:21 with Tambling again nailing two free throws.
 
North Central outscored Augustana 19-10 over the final five minutes to post the victory.
 
Tambling led the Vikings with 21 points and 10 rebounds and she had a blocked shot and a steal. McNally scored 15 points while senior Molly Etheridge (Normal Community HS, Bloomington, Ill.) had 12 with six assists and four steals and freshman Olivia Mayer (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks, Ill.) put up 11 points with four assists and two steals.
 
Augustana won the rebounding battle by a margin of 59-49 but suffered 30 turnovers.
 
For North Central Uzuri Williams and Larynn Shumaker each had 13 points.
 
The Vikings are now 5-14 overall and 1-7 in the CCIW while North Central is 10-9 and 3-5. Augustana will host Wheaton at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 1 in the Carver Center.