Box Score

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Grinnell scorched the nets to the tune of .526 from the field and .538 from three-point range Tuesday afternoon to best Augustana 85-80 in overtime at the University of Dubuque's Jon Davison Classic. The Vikings fell to 5-5 on the season, while the Pioneers are now 5-4. Coach Mark Beinborn's squad will take on either the hosts or Defiance on Wednesday, December 30 at the Stoltz Sports Center, with tipoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
 
Augustana hit six straight free throws over the last eighty seconds of regulation to force the overtime period. Freshmen Corrie Reiley (Prophetstown HS, Prophetstown, Ill.) and Sadie Roberts (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) each drained a pair and two by junior Olivia Mayer (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks, Ill.) with 19 seconds left drew the Vikings even at 71-all. A steal by Jen VanWatermeulen (United Township HS, Silvis, Ill.) on Grinnell's final possession sent the game to the extra session.
 
Pioneer Anne Boldt opened the overtime with a three-pointer and Kayla Morrissey added a field goal and a three as Grinnell scored eight of the first 10 points. Augustana would get no closer than four points the rest of the way.
 
Morrissey hit a three on the game's first possession, but the Vikings responded with an 13-0 run. VanWatermeulen had two steals and layups in the spurt and Mayer scored four points as well. A bucket by freshman Claire Kramer (Prophetstown HS, Lyndon, Ill.) with a minute to play in the first quarter put Augustana up 19-8—the largest lead for either team. However, Grinnell answered with the final five points of the period.
 
The Pioneers continued to chip away at the deficit and a Sophia Gatton free throw with 6:09 before halftime pulled them even at 24-24—the first of 10 ties in the contest. Sophomore Victoria Allen's (Eureka HS, Wildwood, Mo.) layup with 28 seconds left sent the teams to halftime tied at 39-all.
 
After Grinnell took an eight-point lead in the third, the Vikings regained the advantage, 56-55, with an 11-2 run capped by a Marissa Pezzopane (Addison Trail HS, Wood Dale, Ill.) three-pointer. Two free throws by Boldt put the Pioneers ahead 57-56 going to the final period.
 
A Pezzopane field goal with 3:31 left in regulation gave Augustana its final lead of the afternoon at 65-63, but Grinnell scored five straight and wouldn't trail again.
 
The Pioneers shooting performance marked first time this season that a Viking opponent hit better than .355 from the field. Ironically, Grinnell connected on just 18 of 37 (.486) from the free throw line. Augustana won the battle of the boards 45-40 and committed just 10 turnovers, while forcing 17, but shot just .364 (24 of 66) from the floor and .190 (four of 21) from beyond the arc. The Vikings did hit 28 of 39 (.718) free throw tries.
 
Beinborn had four players score in double figures, led by Mayer's career-high 20. Reiley's 15 were also a high in her brief collegiate career, while Pezzopane added 13 and junior Mikayla Fallon (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) 10. Fallon also had a team-high nine rebounds. Mayer led Augustana with three assists and VanWatermeulen recorded a game-high five steals. Morrissey led the Pioneers with 19 points. Alex Neckopoulos added 18, along with a game-high 12 rebounds. Boldt scored 17.