Box Score 
Marissa Pezzopane scored 23 points and had 10 rebounds
in Augustana's 65-62 loss to Wheaton on Saturday, January
17 in the Carver Center.ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Augustana rallied from a 10 point deficit but came up short on Saturday, January 17, losing a 65-62 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin decision to Wheaton in the Carver Center. The Vikings were behind 37-27 at intermission and even trailed by 12 (48-36) with 13:44 left to play in the game before mounting a heroic comeback.
After Kelly Lawson put the Thunder ahead 48-36 with a free throw at 13:44, Augustana went on a 24-11 run that ended with a pair of free throws by freshman
Victoria Allen (Eureka HS, Wildwood, Mo.) at the 2:40 mark. The Vikings had the ball and the lead but turned it over twice with a chance to increase the advantage but turned it over both times.
Wheaton finally took the lead with :45 left on a basket by Katie McDaniels to go in front 61-60 but Augustana went back ahead on a basket by sophomore point guard
Olivia Mayer (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks, Ill.) with just 18 seconds left. The Thunder went back in front at :16 on two free throws by Ellie Zeller and sealed the game on two charity tosses by McDaniels at :14.
In the first half Augustana led by a single digit (22-21) with 8:24 left but were outscored 16-5 for the remainder of the stanza.
Junior post player
Marissa Pezzopane (Addison Trail HS, Wood Dale, Ill.) led Augustana in scoring with 23 points while grabbing 10 points. She was nine of 15 from the floor, including one of one from three point range, and was perfect on four free throws. She was joined in double figures by junior
Andrea McNally (Hinsdale South HS, Burr Ridge, Ill.) with 13 – McNally also claimed eight rebounds – and senior
Valerie VanRoeyen (Libertyville HS, Grayslake, Ill.) with 10 points.
Wheaton's scoring leader was McDaniels with 18 while Zeller had 17 and Hannah Considine scored 10.
The Vikings shot .444 (20-45) from the floor and held Wheaton to .386 (22-57). Augustana also won the rebounding battle by a margin of 36-28 but were hurt by 25 turnovers.
Wheaton is now 14-2 overall and 4-1 in the CCIW and Augustana fell to 7-9 and 1-4. The Vikings will travel to Bloomington, Illinois on Wednesday, January 21 for a conference game against Illinois Wesleyan.
