Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A solid second half shooting performance combined some clutch play in the final minute of the game helped Augustana defeat North Park 88-85 on Saturday, December 3 in the Carver Center. The Vikings move to 6-0 overall for the first time in school history and 1-0 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin as this was the league opener for both teams.
 
At halftime head coach Mark Beinborn's team trailed 43-41 thanks to a three point basket that just beat the buzzer by sophomore Corrie Reiley (Prophetstown HS, Prophetstown, Ill.). But, the Vikings only shot .405 (15-37) in the first 20 minutes. That all changed in the second half when Augustana hit 16 of 31 shots from the floor (.51.6) and came back from an 11-point deficit with 3:07 left to go in the third quarter.
 
Trailing 64-53 after a basket by North Park Elise Estelle, the Vikings closed out the period on a 10-1 run with senior Jennifer VanWatermeulen (United Township HS, Silvis, Ill.) scoring eight of those 10 points. That allowed Augustana to cut the lead to 65-63 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
With 1:06 left to play North Park's Amani Davis tied the game for the 15^th time with a free throw to make it 82-82 and then gave the visitor's it's final lead with a second free throw to make it 83-82.
 
The Vikings made several decisive plays in the final minute to secure the victory but the first came when sophomore Izzy Anderson (Alleman Catholic HS, Rock Island, Ill.) missed seeing a wide-open VanWatermeulen in the corner by the Augustana bench and instead drove the lane and converted an old-fashioned three point play. Anderson's basket came with :53 left and gave the Vikings an 84-83 lead. Her free throw made it 85-83.
 
VanWatermeulen snared a rebound off a missed three point field goal by Gabby Sandoval and got the ball into the hands of Reiley, who was fouled with :17 left in the game. She nailed both free throws to make it 87-83 and Anderson stole the ball on North Park's next possession and was fouled with :11 left. She made one of two free throws to give the Vikings an 88-83 advantage before Shaylee Sloan hit a basket with just three ticks left on the clock to account for the final score.
 
Augustana used balanced scoring as Anderson led the way with 22 points on eight of 13 from the field and six of seven from three point range. She also hauled in six rebounds and had two steals, a blocked shot and a steal.  Senior Kaycee Kallenberger (Pleasant Valley HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) scored 19 points on seven of nine from the field with five of six from the free throw line. She hauled in 13 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end, with two blocked shots, two steals and an assist.
 
VanWatermeulen dropped in 18 points with all but three coming in the second half. She was seven of 13 from the floor and four of eight from three point range. She had three assists, nine rebounds and a steal. The other Viking in double figures was Reiley with 10 points.
 
Augustana held a 54-41 advantage in rebounding.
 
North Park got 17 points from Liz Rehberger but the Vikings defense forced her into a six of 17 shooting night, including 0-5 from three point range and she had seven turnovers.
 
Augustana will take its undefeated record on the road to Elmhurst, Illinois on December 7 to take on the Bluejays at 7:00 p.m.