Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Augustana picked up a key College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin victory on Wednesday, January 18 by a score of 83-73 win over Illinois Wesleyan in the Carver Center and had to survive some anxious moments to do so. After building up a big third quarter lead the Vikings had to survive a frantic finish in order to pick up the win.
 
Sophomore Izzy Anderson (Alleman Catholic HS, Rock Island, Ill.) nailed five of six free throws in the final two minutes to help secure the win. It was just the second time in the last 23 meetings that Augustana won against the Titans.
 
The Vikings led by a single digit (17-16) after one quarter but grabbed a 42-34 halftime advantage. In the third quarter Augustana outscored the visitors 21-15 and twice led by as many as 17 points. With 1:33 left to play in the third sophomore Corrie Reiley (Prophetstown HS, Prophetstown, Ill.) hit one free for the first 17 point lead at 61-44. Just 31 seconds later (1:02) a layup by senior Kaycee Kallenberger (Pleasant Valley HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) put it back to 17 (63-46).  The third period ended with the Vikings ahead by 14 (63-49).
 
In the fourth quarter Illinois Wesleyan went on 15-5 run and with 4:44 left to play a pair of free throws by Molly McGraw trimmed the lead to just four points (68-64).
 
Anderson answered with a layup to make it 70-64 with 4:31 left to give Augustana some breathing room but McGraw hit a basket at 4:09 after a steal by teammate Amanda Kelly to bring the margin back to four (70-66). Anderson got free in the paint and took a feed from senior Olivia Mayer (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks, Ill.) to make it 72-66 with 3:33 left. Kallenberger scored off an Anderson assist at 2:59 and the lead was eight (74-66). With 2:33 to play senior Mikayla Fallon (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) scored and the Vikings were back on top by double digits (76-66).
 
Anderson then made five of six free throws over the final 2:04 and Kallenberger scored a basket with 1:44 left and Augustana was able to turn back the furious Titan comeback.
 
Four Augustana players finished in double digits with Anderson leading the way with 15 points. She also had five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Mayer scored 13 with four assists and a steal and Fallon had 12 points with four assists and eight rebounds. Reiley was also in double digits with 10 points and she contributed three rebounds, three assists and a steal.
 
The Vikings enjoyed a 52-45 edge in rebounding as Kallenberger had seven boards and a game-high four blocked shots. Also a presence around the basket was sophomore Carly McCameron (Antioch HS, Antioch, Ill.) who had seven points, five rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals.
 
Illinois Wesleyan was led in scoring by McGraw with 24 points while Rebekah Ehresman led the team in rebounding with 11.
 
Augustana is now 13-3 overall and sits atop the CCIW standings with a mark of 6-1. Illinois Wesleyan is now 10-6 and 5-2. The Vikings will travel to Decatur, Illinois on Saturday, January 21 to take on Millikin.