Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. – Sophomore Izzy Anderson (Alleman Catholic HS, Rock Island, Ill.) sank three free throws in the final :35 to help lift Augustana to an historic 69-68 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin victory over North Park on Saturday, February 18 in Chicago, Illinois. With the win, head coach Mark Beinborn's Vikings have qualified for the CCIW Tournament for the first time since the 2002-03 season.
 
There was nothing easy about this victory as Augustana survived a 16-0 run by North Park in the third quarter. The Vikings led 50-43 with 4:39 left to play in the third quarter and it appeared as if they had taken control. Senior Jen VanWatermeulen (United Township HS, Silvis, Ill.) nailed two three pointers early in the stanza and senior Kaycee Kallenberger (Pleasant Valley HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) scored three baskets and a free throw to build the margin to seven (50-43).
 
Augustana would not score again in the third quarter and North Park went on a 16-0 run that would eventually lead to a 59-50 advantage for the home team with 9:29 left in the game.
 
Sophomore Corrie Reiley (Prophetstown HS, Prophetstown, Ill.) finally got the Vikings back on the board with a basket with 9:19 left to make it 59-52. VanWatermeulen hit a three with 3:57 remaining to make it 66-63 and with 2:22 left in the game sophomore Meghan Stovall (Broomfield HS, Broomfield, Colo.) dropped in a three from just to the right of the top of the key to tie things at 66-66.
 
Neither team could score again until Anderson was fouled with :35 left and the game tied 66-66. Anderson nailed both charity tosses to make it 68-66 but North Park tied things at 68-68 on a basket by Shaylee Sloan with just 19 seconds to play.
 
Anderson was fouled on a drive to the basket with :03 left on the clock and she made the first but missed the second. Sloan grabbed the rebound for North Park and hurried the ball ahead to Gabby Sandoval but her shot was off as the buzzer sounded.
 
After being outscored 25-15 in the third quarter, the Vikings held a 19-11 advantage over North Park in the fourth and final stanza.
 
Kallenberger was once again a force inside as she scored 18 points and had a game-high 16 rebounds. VanWatermeulen had 12 points, on four three-pointers, and senior Mikayla Fallon (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) was in double figures with 11. Anderson scored nine points and made five of six free throws. The Vikings were ice-cold in the first half, shooting  just .297 (11-37) from the floor but in the second half they warmed up to the tune of .480 (12-25). They also held a huge 48-37 advantage in rebounding as junior Victoria Allen (Eureka HS, Wildwood, Mo.) grabbed seven to go along with Kallenberger's 16.
 
North Park, which finishes the season 11-14 overall and 4-12 in the CCIW, got 25 points out of Liz Rehberger and 16 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots from Amani Davis.
 
Augustana is now 17-7 on the season and 10-5 in the CCIW and assured of no worse than a fourth place finish in the league standings. The top four teams make it to the CCIW Tournament, which will begin on Friday, February 24 at the home court of the regular season champion (either Illinois Wesleyan or Wheaton).
 
The Vikings were 14-9 overall and 9-5 in the CCIW in 2002-03 under the direction of then-head coach James Black. They were defeated in the first round by eventual CCIW Tournament Champion Illinois Wesleyan.
 
Augustana will wrap up the regular season on Tuesday, February 21 with a 7:00 p.m. home game in Carver Center against North Central.