Box Score

PELLA, Iowa – Augustana hit six of eight free throw attempts in the final 1:08 Saturday to hold off Central, defeating the Dutch 58-55 at Kuyper Gymnasium. Coach Mark Beinborn's Vikings improve to 3-3 on the year, while Central suffered just its second loss in eight games.
 
With three minutes left in the game, freshman Victoria Allen (Eureka HS, Wildwood, Mo.) took a cross court pass from sophomore Olivia Mayer (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks, Ill.) and hit a jumper from the left side that gave Augustana a 52-45 lead, matching its biggest of the afternoon. In the final minute and a half, Central used a layup and two free throws by Rachel Evans, another layup by Abbie Agan, a Kaitlin Stump three-pointer and a Jackie Kriegel free throw to keep the pressure on. However, sophomore Jen VanWatermeulen (United Township HS, Silvis, Ill.) and junior Andrea McNally (Hinsdale South HS, Burr Ridge, Ill.) each canned a pair of free throws and Mayer and Allen each hit one of two as the Vikings scored their last six points from the line to hold on for the victory.
 
After a pair of free throws gave the hosts an early 2-0 advantage, Augustana scored nine straight to take a 9-2 lead. Junior Marissa Pezzopane (Addison Trail HS, Wood Dale, Ill.) had a pair of field goals in the run and VanWatermeulen drained a three. The Vikings maintained that lead through most of the first half. The Dutch briefly went up 22-20 on a layup by Stump, but Allen answered with a three to regain the advantage. A Mayer steal and layup completed a 6-0 run to end the half, as Augustana went to the locker room leading 33-27.
 
An Evans layup with 14:36 to play forged one final tie for Central at 34-34, but it took Mayer just four seconds to find Pezzopane, whose layup put the Vikings up for good. Clinging to a 41-40 lead at the eight-minute mark, Augustana got offensive rebounds from senior Valerie VanRoeyen (Libertyville HS, Grayslake, Ill.) and sophomore Katie Villa (Craig HS, Janesville, Wis.) to keep a possession alive that eventually ended with a McNally three from the left corner and a 44-40 advantage.
 
Mayer scored just six points, but led the Vikings with eight assists, six rebounds and three steals in 36 minutes of action. Pezzopane was the only Augustana player in double figures, scoring 14 before fouling out with 1:15 remaining. She also had five rebounds and three blocked shots. Beinborn also got nine points from VanWatermeulen and eight each from McNally and VanRoeyen.
 
Augustana hit 19 of 40 (.475) field goal attempts, including four of 12 (.333) from beyond the arc. The Vikings converted 16 of 21 (.762) from the free throw line and overcame 23 turnovers, in part, with a 31-28 advantage on the boards. Central—which was led by Evans' 16 points—shot .373 (19 of 51) from the floor, .308 (four of 13) from long range and .650 (13 of 20) from the line.  The Dutch committed 18 turnovers.
 
Next up for Augustana is a home date with Rockford University. The Regents visit Carver Center on Tuesday, December 16, with tipoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m.