Box Score

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Augustana went back to some basic tenants of the game and the result was an 86-79 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin women's basketball victory over North Central on Wednesday, January 11 at Merner Fieldhouse in Naperville, Illinois. The victory, which snapped a three game Viking losing streak, was accomplished because of tough defense and a huge rebounding advantage.
 
Augustana put the clamps on the Cardinal shooters, especially in the first half when the home team connected on just .256 (11-43) of its shots. For the game North Central was at .301 with 25 baskets in 83 attempts. And the Vikings were certainly there to clean up those missed shots as they pounded the Cardinals on the boards to the tune of a 62-46 margin.
 
Heading into the game on a three-game losing streak, head coach Mark Beinborn's charges grabbed a 26-16 lead after the first quarter. The Vikings trailed 11-10 with 4:15 left in the first but went on a 16-5 run to close out the stanza.
 
Augustana never trailed and early in the fourth quarter the advantage got as big as 20 points (75-55) with 7:48 left to play. North Central promptly went on a 19-2 run and with 2:39 left to play in the game a basket by the Cardinals Michaela Reedy cut the margin to just three points (77-74).
 
Senior Mikayla Fallon (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:40 left to make it 79-74 and then a steal, a layup and subsequent free throw by senior post player Kaycee Kallenberger (Pleasant Valley HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) bumped the margin to eight points (82-74) with 1:14 left in the game. Kallenberger scored again, this time with just :48 left off a feed from junior Victoria Allen (Eureka HS, Wildwood, Ill.) to push the advantage into double digits at 84-74. Allen made two free throws with :14 left to seal the win.
 
Sophomore Corrie Reiley (Prophetstown HS, Prophetstown, Ill.) led Augustana in scoring with 16 points as she hit on eight of 16 from the field while Kallenberger had 14 points and a game high 18 rebounds with seven blocked shots. Also in double digits for the Vikings was sophomore Carly McCameron (Antioch HS, Antioch, Ill.) with 10 points.
 
The Vikings shot .467 (35-75) from the floor, including a .500 (21-42) outing in the first half.
 
Senior Olivia Mayer (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks, Ill.) had six assists while senior Jennifer VanWatermeulen (United Township HS, Silvis, Ill.) had five and Allen picked up four.
 
North Central was led in scoring by Shannon Reed, who was a perfect six of six from the field and three of three from three point range, with 18 points.
 
Augustana is now 11-3 overall and 4-1 in the CCIW while North Central falls to 9-6 and 3-3. The Vikings will host Carroll in a CCIW game on Saturday, January 14 at 5:00 p.m. in the Carver Center.