Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Despite outscoring Carthage 50-34 in the second half it was not enough for the Augustana women's basketball team as the Vikings fell to the visiting Lady Reds 72-65 on Saturday, February 6 in the Carver Center. A second period slump, which saw Augustana net just two points, was the main culprit for head coach Mark Beinborn's team.
 
The game was tied in the early going (9-9 with 5:13 left in the first quarter) when Carthage went on a 12-4 run to close out the stanza and take a 21-13 lead after the first 10 minutes of play. Things didn't get any better for the Vikings in the second period as the Lady Reds enjoyed a 17-2 advantage to take a 38-15 lead at halftime.
 
That lead grew to 25 points when Monica Masini scored a basket with 7:10 left in the third to make it 44-19 in favor of Carthage.
 
Junior Jennifer VanWatermeulen (United Township HS, Silvis, Ill.) came off the bench and fired in a trio of three pointers in the final 2:08 of the third quarter and when the buzzer sounded the lead was down to just 12 (53-41). Augustana outscored the visitors 26-15 in the third and continued the run in the fourth. When sophomore Victoria Allen (Eureka HS, Wildwood, Mo.) hit a pair of free throws with 4:11 left in the game the margin was down to just three points (62-59).
 
Carthage fought off the challenge, however as Augustana missed five of its next six shots. The Lady Reds closed out the game by making six consecutive free throws.
 
Junior Kaycee Kallenberger (Pleasant Valley HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) compiled quite a line for the Vikings. She scored 15 points on six of nine from the field and three of five from the free throw line. She led all rebounders with 15 and she blocked eight shots with one assist in 31 minutes of action.
 
Kallenberger was joined in double figures by Van Watermeulen, who scored 14 points. Senior Marissa Pezzopane (Addison Trail HS, Wood Dale, Ill.), playing in her final game on the Carver hardwood, tallied nine points as did freshman Sadie Roberts (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.).
 
Carthage got 26 points from Morgan Harris, who also pulled down 14 rebounds while Bailey Gilbert scored 17 and Mandy Hozzian added 10.
 
The Vikings had a slight (42-39) edge in rebounding but were hurt by a .222 (6 of 27) performance from the field in the first half.
 
Augustana falls to 10-12 overall and 5-6 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin while Carthage moves to 9-13 and 5-6 in league play. The Vikings next game will be Wednesday, February 10 at Illinois Wesleyan.