Box Score 
Jen VanWatermeulen hiit four of five three point field goals
and finished with 12 points in Augustana's 72-61 loss to
Loras on Wednesday, December 2 in the Carver Center.ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Loras outscored Augustana 23-9 in the fourth quarter and dealt the Vikings a 72-61 loss in non-conference action on Wednesday, December 2 in the Carver Center. Augustana, which led most of the game, was clinging to a 52-49 lead heading into the final stanza and still had the advantage with the clocking nearing the three minute mark.
The Vikings were leading 59-58 when the visitors' Megan Jones made a basket with 3:08 to play to put Loras in front 60-59. Junior
Mikayla Fallon (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) put Augustana back on top with a pair of free throws at 2:47 to make it 61-60.
In the final 2:47, however, Loras went on a 12-1 run to salt the contest away. Kaitlin Phillips, who would end the night with 17 points, made eight free throws down the stretch to help give the Duhawks the win.
Augustana jumped out to a big lead early and was ahead 18-8 at the end of the first 10 minutes, thanks to a 13-0 run over a 6:55 stretch. At one point in the second quarter the Viking advantage grew to 17 (32-15) with 4:52 left in the second quarter. Loras closed the half with a 12-3 lead and trimmed the margin to just eight (35-27) at halftime.
In the third quarter a three point field goal from junior Jennifer VanWatermeulen
(United Township HS, Silvis, Ill.) pushed the lead to nine points (47-38) with 4:40 left in the third period. Loras went on an 11-5 run to close out the stanza and cut the lead to three (52-49) heading into the fourth.
VanWatermeulen and senior
Marissa Pezzopane (Addison Trail HS, Wood Dale, Ill.) tied for the scoring lead for Augustana with 12 points each. Fallon was also in double figures with 10 points. Pezzopane led the Vikings in rebounding with eight while junior
Olivia Mayer (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks, Ill.) dished off five assists.
Loras got 18 points and 18 rebounds from Lori Obendorf while Phillips, who was 15 of 21 from the free throw line, dropped in 17 points with four assists and three steals.
The Duhawks held a huge 56-33 advantage in the rebounding department.
Augustana dropped to 3-3 on the season while Loras moved to 3-2. The Vikings next game is Monday, December 7 at Monmouth in a non-conference game.
