Box Score A strong second-half performance by senior Jessica Baids (West Chicago HS, Carol  Stream, Ill.), especially in the final five minutes, helped lead Augustana to a 74-66 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin victory over Millikin on Wednesday, February 12 in the Carver Center. Baids scored 14 of her game-high 19 points and grabbed six of her eight rebounds in the final 20 minutes of action but it was her clutch play in crunch time that helped the Vikings snap a seven game losing streak.
 
Augustana led 32-31 at halftime, despite giving up 13 offensive rebounds to the visitors in the first 20 minutes. The Vikings led by just two points (55-53) after freshman Olivia Mayer (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks, Ill.) broke the fourth tie of the game with a basket at 5:12.
 
Baids then took over, scoring a basket at 4:47 to push the lead to 57-53. She pulled down a defensive rebound at 3:26 with Augustana clinging to a three point lead (58-55) and calmly sank a pair of free throws to make it 60-55. On Millikin's next offensive trip down the floor Baids was there again for the rebound and was immediately fouled. Her two charity tosses at 3:03 made it 62-55.
 
She was good on two more freebies at 2:47 for a 64-57 advantage and when Millikin's Yip Ypya nailed a three point basket to make it 64-60 at 2:36, Baids once again went to the free throw line and made two more to up the lead to 66-60 at 2:17.
 
When senior Amy Hicks (Rockford Christian HS, Rockford, Ill.) came up with a steal at 2:06, the Vikings milked the clock until senior Chaney Tambling (Dwight HS, Dwight, Ill.) was fouled at 1:46. Following Baids' lead, Tambling hit two free throws to make it 68-60. With 1:21 left Baids pulled down an offensive rebound after a miss by Tambling and muscled in the put-back to make it 70-60.
 
In the final 30 seconds senior Molly Etheridge (Normal Community HS, Bloomington, Ill.) hit three of four free throws and sophomore Andrea McNally (Hinsdale South HS, Burr Ridge, Ill.) scored one of two as Augustana won for the first time since January 15.
 
Baids led all scorers with 19 points as she was four of nine from the field and a perfect 11 of 11 from the free throw line. She grabbed eight rebounds and had an assist. Etheridge had 14 points and pulled down 10 rebounds while Hicks was in double figures with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
Augustana held Millikin to .293 (24-82) shooting from the field but the Big Blue ended the game with 21 offensive rebounds, many of which resulted in second-chance points. Millikin was led in scoring by Brittany Czaplicki with 16 points.
 
The Vikings are now 6-17 overall and 2-10 in the CCIW. They will host Elmhurst on Saturday, February 15 at 5:00 p.m. in a "Senior Night" game.