Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Inside presence was the key to Augustana's 109-100 victory over North Central in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin women's basketball action on Wednesday, February 3 in the Carver Center. The low-post duo of senior Marissa Pezzopane (Addison Trail HS, Wood Dale, Ill.) and sophomore Kaycee Kallenberger (Pleasant Valley HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) combined for 51 points, 26 rebounds, eight blocked shots and three assists as the Vikings never trailed in the contest.
 
The Vikings jumped out to a 12-3 lead in the game's early going and Pezzopane and Kallenberger accounted for all of the home team's points to set the tone. That helped translate to a 30-16 lead after the first quarter as Augustana made 13 of 24 shots from the field (.542) in the first 10 minutes of action,
 
With just 2:50 left before halftime the lead ballooned to 23 points (52-29) on a pair of free throws from freshman Sadie Roberts (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.). However, the visiting Cardinals went on a 17-3 run to close out the half and at intermission the lead was in single digits at 55-46.
 
A three point field goal from North Central's Carol Heimerdinger at the 7:35 mark of the third quarter had the lead down to six points (61-55) but Augustana scored the next eight points to go up 69-55 at 5:51 when freshman Carly McCameron (Antioch HS, Antioch, Ill.) drained a pair of free throws.
 
The lead was 19 (86-67) following a basket by freshman Clare Kramer (Prophetstown HS, Prophetstown, Ill.) with just :40 left in the third. North Central got a basket from Lauren Hernandez and a three point field goal from Therese Pettersson to close the margin to 14 (86-72) heading into the fourth.
 
Augustana's lead stayed in double digits most of the way until a three point field goal by Hernandez with 2:58 tightened the margin to eight (97-89). Sophomore Victoria Allen (Eureka HS, Wildwood, Mo.) hit two free throws at 1:52 to make it a 10-point game (99-89).
 
The Cardinals were not done, however and a three pointer from Hernandez at 1:00 made it 101-94 but Kallenberger responded with a layup at :52 to make it 103-94 and 11 seconds late she hit a pair of free throws to bump things to 11 (105-94) with :41 to play. Pezzopane added a pair of baskets in the final 26 seconds to offset three point field goals by Anita Sterling and Mayson Whipple of the Cardinals.
 
Pezzopane scored 27 points on 13 of 20 from the field with 11 rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot. Kallenberger scored 24 points on nine of 13 from the floor and six of nine from the free throw line. She had 15 rebounds, seven blocked shots and a pair of assists.
 
Roberts scored 13 and chipped in with six rebounds while junior Mikayla Fallon (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Allen only scored three points but she dished off nine assists.
 
Augustana won the rebounding battle 60-54 and shot a sizzling .558 (43-77) from the floor.
 
North Central got 26 points from Hernandez, who was eight of 14 from the floor, including a six of eight performance from three point range.
 
The Vikings are now 10-11 overall and 5-5 in the CCIW while North Central falls to 10-11 and 4-6 in league play. Augustana will host Carthage at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 6 in a Senior Night game.