Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. – Poor shooting in the second half spelled trouble for Augustana in a 71-62 loss at North Park in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin women's basketball action on Saturday, January 9 in Chicago, Illinois. The Vikings dropped their second straight league game after opening CCIW action with a win over eighth ranked Wheaton a week ago.
 
After trailing by just a single point (31-30) at halftime, head coach Mark Beinborn's team were outscored by eight (40-32) in the second half. It didn't help that the Vikings made just nine of 34 (.265) shots from the floor after the intermission. They also connected on just 10 of 17 (.588) free throws in the second 20 minutes.
 
In the early moments of the third quarter Augustana hung in there with league leading North Park. Sophomore Victoria Allen (Eureka HS, Wildwood, Mo.) hit back-to-back three point field goals to give the Vikings a 36-33 lead with less than two minutes gone.
 
A basket by junior Olivia Mayer (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks, Ill.) with 4:07 left in the third gave the visitors a 42-40 advantage. It would be Augustana's last lead of the night as North Park's Liz Rehberger hit two free throws at 3:58 to tie the game at 42-42. It was the 10^th time that the contest had been tied. A basket by North Park's Nicole Kruckman at 2:10 made it 44-42 and the home team never trailed again.
 
The Vikings trailed by five (48-43) after three quarters and in the final stanza could only get the margin to as little as five on one occasion. The came with 6:28 left after a free throw by freshman Carly McCameron (Antioch HS, Antioch, Ill.) made it 51-46.
 
North Park connected on 11 straight free throws in the final 1:36 to seal the game and the home team scored its last 13 points from the charity stripe.
 
Augustana was led in scoring by senior Marissa Pezzopane (Addison Trail HS, Wood Dale, Ill.) with 14 points. Mayer (11 points) and junior Mikayla Fallon (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) with 10 points were also in double figures. Fallon led the team in rebounding with nine while junior Kaycee Kallenberger (Pleasant Valley HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) pulled down eight and had six blocked shots with one steal. Allen had nine points.
 
North Park got 31 points from Rehberger and 10 from Kruckman as it moved to 12-2 on the season and 3-0 in the CCIW.
 
Augustana is now 6-8 overall and 1-2 in league play. The Vikings travel to Naperville, Illinois on Wednesday, January 13 to take on North Central.