DECATUR, Ill. – Augustana shot .846 from the field in the fourth quarter Saturday to hold off a hot-shooting Millikin outfit by a score of 75-72 at the Griswold Center. The trio of senior Izzy Anderson (Alleman

HS, Rock Island, Ill.) and juniors Alexis Jones (Marist HS, Chicago, Ill.) and Mia Lambert (Macomb HS, Macomb, Ill.) combined for 55 points as the Vikings improved to 6-5 on the season and 2-2 in the CCIW. The Big Blue dropped to 2-8 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
 
The hosts rallied from a double-digit deficit in the first half, outscoring Augustana 28-14 over a 15-minute stretch to take a 45-44 lead into the final period.
 
Jones, who beat the third-quarter buzzer with a layup to pull the Vikings to within a point, scored on Augustana's first four possessions of the fourth as Coach Mark Beinborn's squad took a 52-47 lead. Lambert three-pointers twice bumped the margin to eight and it reached nine (67-58) on an Anderson layup with 3:40 to play.
 
Millikin refused to fold however, answering with an 8-0 run that trimmed the deficit to 67-66 at the 1:21 mark. The Big Blue continued to make shots, but Jones hit two free throws and Anderson four to keep the Vikings on top 75-72. After Jones missed two from the charity stripe with seven seconds left, the hosts had a chance to tie with a three, but Saddler missed a jumper from inside the arc and Jones captured her team-high ninth rebound to seal the victory.
 
Augustana made 11 of 13 shots from the field in the final period to counter a Big Blue crew that shot .636 from the field, .500 from three-point range and .813 from the free throw line in the second half.
 
The Vikings scored the game's first nine points and led 19-10 after one quarter behind five points each from Jones and Lambert.
 
A Clare Kramer (Prophetstown HS, Lyndon, Ill.) bucket gave the visitors their first double-digit lead (21-10) and the margin ballooned to 13 twice in the second quarter. A Sadie Roberts (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) layup made it 23-10 and an Anderson three-pointer five minutes before halftime gave Augustana a 30-17 advantage.
 
Aubrey Staton scored six points as Millikin outscored the Vikings 10-2 to cut the deficit to 32-27 at the break. Saddler's hoop with 7½ minutes left in the third quarter tied the contest (34-34) for the first time since 0-0 and Staton's two free throws at the 6:45 mark gave the Big Blue their first lead at 36-34. They led by as much as six (42-36) before Augustana finished the period on an 8-3 run, setting up the fourth-quarter fireworks.
 
Jones (14), Anderson (13) and Lambert (eight) combined for 35 second-half points. They finished the afternoon with 20, 22 and 13, respectively. In addition to Jones' nine boards, Anderson grabbed seven and they each had four steals. Roberts finished with six points, six rebounds and three assists and senior Scooter Lopez (Mountain Vista HS, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) added five assists and three steals.
 
Staton led Millikin with game highs of 27 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Both teams bounced back from cold shooting first halves. The Vikings finished 30 of 69 (.435) from the field, four of 19 (.211) from beyond the arc and 11 of 20 (.550) from the foul line. The Big Blue shot .489 (22-45) from the floor, .450 (9-20) from long range and .826 (19-23) from the charity stripe. Millikin had a narrow 34-33 edge on the glass but committed 25 turnovers to just 11 for Augustana.
 
The Vikings now head south to Memphis, Tennessee for a contest at Rhodes on Sunday, December 16 at 7:00 p.m.