Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Despite a balanced scoring attack, Augustana dropped a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin women's basketball contest to Illinois Wesleyan on Wednesday, January 21 in Bloomington, Illinois by a score of 84-71. The Vikings put all five starters in double figures for the night and shot .446 from the floor but were hampered by 22 turnovers.
 
Augustana controlled the game in the early going and with 3:32 left in the first half led 33-26 after a basket by sophomore Katie Villa (Janesville Craig HS, Janesville, Wis.). However, Illinois Wesleyan closed out the final 3:32 on a 14-5 run and took a 40-38 lead into the locker room at intermission.
 
In the second half the Titans came out on a 20-2 run over the first 3:48 and with 16:12 left in the game led 60-40. The Vikings committed four turnovers and missed four shots during that time frame.
 
Augustana battled back and with 4:41 left had the lead down to just six (70-64) with a 24-10 run of its own. A free throw by Andrea McNally (Hinsdale South HS, Burr Ridge, Ill.) capped the surge but that was as close as head coach Mark Beinborn's team could get.
 
Junior Marissa Pezzopane (Addison Trail HS, Wood Dale, Ill.) led the Vikings with 13 points while McNally and senior Valerie VanRoeyen (Libertyville HS, Grayslake, Ill.) each had 12. Sophomores Jennifer VanWatermeulen (United Township HS, Silvis, Ill.) Olivia Mayer (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks, Ill.) had 11 and 10 points respectively.
 
McNally pulled down 12 rebounds as Augustana enjoyed a 40-36 advantage over the Titans in that department.
 
Illinois Wesleyan got 26 points from Kasey Reaber while Molly McGraw had 19 and Gabrielle Holness scored 18.
 
The Vikings are now 7-10 overall and 1-5 in the CCIW while the Titans move to 8-9 and 2-4. Augustana will travel to Decatur, Illinois on Saturday, January 24 for a 5:00 p.m. game with Millikin.