Box Score

DUBUQUE, Iowa – A slow start proved costly for Augustana in a 70-61 loss to Loras in non-conference action in Dubuque, Iowa on Monday, December 29. The Vikings fell behind by as many as 18 points during the early going before battling back and making a game of it.
 
Head coach Mark Beinborn's club had not seen action since a win over Centre on Saturday, December 20 in Memphis, Tennessee and in the early going the offense showed some signs of that layoff. With 8:32 left in the first half a Lori Obendorf layup gave the Duhawks a 27-9 lead. At that point Augustana had connected on just four of 16 shots from the floor.
 
Down by 18 the Vikings managed to cut the margin to 11 (33-22) at halftime thanks to a basket by freshman Victoria Allen (Eureka HS, Wildwood, Mo.) with just two seconds left with sophomore Carly Adams (Sherrard HS, Viola, Ill.) collecting the assist.
 
At halftime Augustana shot just .250 (8-32) from the floor and had been out-rebounded 28-14. In the second 20 minutes that all changed, however as the Vikings came out on an 11-3 run to trim the advantage to just three points (36-33) with 15:09 left in the game. Three three-point field goals from sophomore Jen VanWatermeulen (United Township HS, Silvis, Ill.) helped key the surge.
 
Another VanWatermeulen three-point basket at 13:34 made it a one-point game (39-38) and a single free throw from sophomore Olivia Mayer (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks, Ill.) tied the game 39-39 with 11:59 to play.
 
Loras got back-to-back three point baskets from Miranda Chapman to bump the margin back up to six point (45-39) with 10:58 to play. Augustana used a three-point field goal from Mayer at 8:55 to once again cut the lead to a single point (47-46) but the Vikings could get no closer.
 
With less than six minutes to play (5:11), Mayer scored to make it a three-point game (55-52) but the Duhawks scored the next nine points to make it a 12-point margin (64-52) with 2:11 left to play.
 
VanWatermeulen led all scorers with 18 points as she connected on six of 12 three-point attempts. Mayer had 15 points and added five assists and five rebounds while senior Valerie VanRoeyen (Libertyville HS, Grayslake, Ill.) dropped in 16 points and had four rebounds.
 
Carly Goede led Loras in scoring with 15 points while Kathleen Cabrera had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Kaitlin Phillips scored 11 while also being credited with nine assists.
 
Loras moved to 6-4 with the win while Augustana dropped to 5-5. The Vikings will host Monmouth at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31 in the Carver Center for the final non-conference game of the season.