Box Score ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Augustana fell to Wheaton 68-63 on Saturday, February 1 in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin action at the Carver Center. The Vikings hung with the Thunder but eventually fell for their fifth straight loss, dating back to a 101-91 win over North Central on January 15.
 
Senior Chaney Tambling (Dwight HS, Dwight, Ill.) was the lone Augustana player in double figures with 19 points as she was good on six of 12 from the floor and seven of eight from the free throw line. She pulled down five rebounds as well.
 
In the first half the game was tied seven times and the lead changed hands five times before the Thunder eventually took a four-point lead (31-27) into the locker room at halftime. Although the Thunder built an eight point margin early in the going (41-33 at 17:17), the Vikings clawed back and cut it to two on a basket by Tambling at 14:33 to make it 41-39.
 
With 1:25 left the margin was still just five points (65-60) but a Maris Hovee basket, a single free throw by Katie McDaniels sandwiched around an Augustana turnover sealed the Vikings fate. Senior Amy Hicks (Rockford Christian HS, Rockford, Ill.) hit a three point basket with just 12 seconds left to account for the final score of 68-63.
 
Wheaton had three players in double figures with Ellie Zeller leading the way with 15 points while McDaniels and Hovee each had 12. Hovee hauled in 14 rebounds as the Thunder held a 43-36 advantage on the boards.
 
Senior Molly Etheridge (Normal Community HS, Bloomington, Ill.), who was honored before the game for reaching the 1,000 point mark for her career, tallied nine points. Senior Jessica Baids (West Chicago HS, Carol Stream, Ill.), who was back in action since missing five games due to injury, scored eight points and pulled down five rebounds.
 
Wheaton is now 15-4 overall and 6-3 in the CCIW while Augustana is 5-15 and 1-8. The Vikings will host Illinois Wesleyan on Wednesday, February 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Carver Center.