Box Score

KENOSHA, Wis. – Senior Marissa Pezzopane (Addison Trail HS, Wood Dale, Ill.) scored eight points in the final minute and a half Saturday as Augustana wiped out an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit and defeated Carthage 56-51 at Tarble Arena. The win was the Vikings' first over the Lady Reds since 2005 and their first at Carthage since 2002. They improved to 7-9 overall and 2-3 in the CCIW, while the hosts fell to 6-10 overall and 2-3 in the league.
 
Trailing 40-32 to start the final period, Coach Mark Beinborn's club whittled away at the deficit and finally drew even at 49-all on Pezzopane's conventional three-point play with 1:23 to play. After rebounding a Morgan Harris miss on the  ensuing Lady Reds' possession, Pezzopane put Augustana up 51-49, scoring off a nice post feed from sophomore Victoria Allen (Eureka HS, Wildwood, Mo.).
 
The Viking senior then came up with a steal on Carthage's next possession, forcing the Lady Reds to foul freshman Corrie Reiley (Prophetstown HS, Prophetstown, Ill.). Reiley converted both free throws to make it 53-49. Carthage's Bailey Gilbert drew her team to within 53-51 with two freebies of her own. After being fouled again with 14 seconds left, Reiley rimmed out both of her free throws, but it was Pezzopane to the rescue, as she knifed in for the offensive rebound. Augustana deftly played keep-away until Pezzopane finished off the night's scoring with another conventional three-point play just before the final buzzer.
 
After being tied 25-all at the half, Augustana scored the first seven points of the third quarter. Two Pezzopane baskets and a conventional three-point play by Reiley gave Augustana a 32-25 advantage with six and a half minutes remaining in the period. However, those would be the last Viking points of the quarter. A pair of Mandy Hozian three-pointers in the final minute capped a 15-0 Lady Red run to close the period, giving the hosts a 40-32 lead.
 
Augustana led early. Olivia Mayer's (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks., Ill.) basket half way through the first quarter gave the Vikings their third five-point lead of the period at 14-9. However, two Morgan Vukovich baskets and a Bailey Gilbert steal and three-pointer keyed a 9-0 Carthage run that put the Lady Reds up 18-14. A pair of Reiley free throws drew Coach Mark Beinborn's club within 18-16 at the quarter break.
 
A Reiley three-pointer with 5:19 to play in the second period put Augustana on top 19-18 and snapped a nearly five-minute drought by both teams. The rest of the quarter was nip-and-tuck, with a bucket by Carthage's Monica Masini forging a 25-all tie at halftime.
 
Pezzopane led the Vikings with 17 points on seven-of-11 shooting from the floor and three-of-three from the foul line. Reiley scored 14 off the bench and the two shared rebound honors with six each. Vukovich led the Lady Reds with 17.
 
Augustana shot .345 (20 f 58) from the field and survived a one-of-16 (.063) performance from beyond the arc. The Vikings were 15 of 23 (.652) from the free throw line. Carthage finished 21 of 62 (.339) from the floor, five of 20 (.250) from three-point range and four of eight (.500) from the foul line. Rebounding and turnovers were tight, with the Lady Reds winning the battle of the boards 43-42 and turning it over one more time than Augustana, 15 to 14.
 
Beinborn's club hosts Illinois Wesleyan on Wednesday, January 20. Tipoff at Carver Center is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.