Box Score

KENOSHA, Wis. – A 20-4 run to close out the game proved to be too much for Augustana on Saturday, January 3 as the Vikings dropped a 74-51 decision to Carthage in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It was the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin opener for both teams and there was a point late in the game when head coach Mark Beinborn's team made a serious run at the defending league champions.
 
After trailing by 13 (38-25) at halftime and by as many as 20 (54-34) with 12:08 to play, Augustana made a charge. Over a period of nearly four minutes, from 10:36 until 6:50, the Vikings went on a 13-0 run to trim the lead to just seven points (54-47).
 
The run started with a free throw from senior Valerie VanRoeyen (Libertyville HS, Grayslake, Ill.) and then junior Marissa Pezzopane (Addison Trail HS, Wood Dale, Ill.) scored with 10:09 to make it a 17-point game (54-37). Freshman Victoria Allen (Eureka HS, Wildwood, Mo.) and freshman Cassidy Rice (Ottawa HS, Marseilles, Ill.) scored at 9:34 and 9:16 respectively to cut the margin to 13 (54-41).
 
Pezzopane scored at 8:43 to trim things to 54-43 and Allen scored again at 8:06 to bring the margin into single digits (54-45) for the first time since the 2:59 mark of the first half. Rice's basket at 6:50 made it a seven-point game (54-47) with 6:50 to go.
 
Carthage got a three point field goal by Kasey Kleiner at 6:32 to make it a 10-point margin (57-47) but Pezzopane drilled a pair of free throws at 5:46 to make it 57-49.
 
From that point on, however, Augustana would score just two more points and the Lady Reds ripped off 17 to seal the decision.
 
Pezzopane had a tremendous game for the Vikings, scoring 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. She also had an assist and two blocked shots. She was the lone Augustana player in double figures in scoring. VanRoeyen scored nine points.
 
Sophomore Olivia Mayer (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks, Ill.) had four assists.
 
Carthage had five players in double figures with Alexis Hahn and Taylor Boardman each scoring 17. Allison Riley had 14 while Kleiner and Thomas each scored 11.
 
Augustana is now 6-6 overall and 0-1 in the CCIW while Carthage is 8-4 and 1-0. The Vikings play at Elmhurst on Wednesday, January 7 in a conference battle.