Box Score

ROCKFORD, Ill. – Coach Mark Beinborn's Augustana basketball team used a strong defensive effort to overcome an off shooting night Tuesday, defeating Rockford 79-48 at the Seaver Center. The Vikings improved to 2-0 on the season, while the host Regents dropped their season opener.
 
Junior Jen VanWatermeulen's (United Township HS, Silvis, Ill.) three-pointer at 7:42 of the first quarter capped an 8-0 Augustana run to start the game. VanWatermeulen finished the period with eight points as the Vikings led 21-9 after one.
 
Freshman Carly McCameron (Antioch HS, Antioch, Ill.) dropped in a layup with six minutes to play before the half, extending the visitor's lead to 20 for the first time at 31-11. Hannah Durbin (Springfield HS, Springfield, Ore.), another of Beinborn's newcomers, scored on a putback just before the buzzer to give Augustana a 40-17 lead at intermission. The Vikings limited Rockford to five field goals in 27 attempts (.185) and VanWatermeulen and senior Andrea McNally (Hinsdale South HS, Burr Ridge, Ill.) each went to the locker room with eight points.
 
Despite a five-for-17 shooting effort in the period, Augustana extended its lead to 58-32 after three quarters. Beinborn went deep into his bench in the final period, playing 15 players as the Vikings pulled away further for the 31-point win.
 
Despite a .342 (26 of 76) shooting night from the field, Augustana cruised to the victory behind its defense, which forced 30 turnovers and held the Regents to just 11 field goals in 48 attempts, a percentage of .229. The Vikings recorded 16 steals, with VanWatermeulen and junior Olivia Mayer (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks, Ill.) coming away with four each. Augustana also blocked 11 shots, with 6' 5" junior center Kaycee Kallenberger (Pleasant Valley HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) leading the way with five. Kallenberger also a had a game-high 11 rebounds, and McNally eight, as the Vikings won the battle of the boards 51-43.
 
Offensively, junior Mikayla Fallon (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) scored a game-high 14 points on three-of-five shooting from beyond the arc. She added six rebounds and two steals in her first action of the year. McNally was also in double figures with 10 points, while VanWatermeulen, McCameron and senior Marissa Pezzopane (Addison Trail HS, Wood Dale, Ill.) dropped in eight each.
 
Augustana travels to Santa Cruz, California this weekend to face Concordia-Moorhead on Friday, November 20 and host UC-Santa Cruz on Sunday, November 22.