ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Augustana shot a blistering .645 from the field in the second half Saturday and pulled away to a 79-61 win over Monmouth at Carver Center. Coach Mark Beinborn's Vikings won their fourth straight to improve to 8-5 on the season, while the Fighting Scots suffered their first setback in 10 contests this season.

 

Augustana led 28-24 after a first half that saw both teams struggle offensively. The hosts shot just .357 (10-28) from the floor and Monmouth just .333 (10-30). The teams went a combined 0-10 from three-point range.
 
The lid came off for both outfits in the third quarter. The Vikings hit nine of 13 (.692) from the floor, while the guests were seven of 12 (.583). However, the Scots turned it over seven times, with six coming on Augustana steals. The hosts extended their advantage to double digits (34-24) on a Mia Lambert (Macomb HS, Macomb, Ill.) three-pointer, a basket by Clare Kramer (Prophetstown HS, Lyndon, Ill.) and an Izzy Anderson (Alleman HS, Rock Island, Ill.) free throw in the opening minute. A Kramer layup with 2:26 left in the third pushed the margin to 48-33, but Becca Gallis eventually scored to trim Monmouth's deficit to 53-42 after three quarters.
 
Scooter Lopez (Mountain Vista HS, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) had back-to-back three-pointers as Augustana opened the fourth quarter with a 10-5 run that pushed its lead to 18 (65-47). The Scots got as close as 12, but the Vikings closed the contest with a 10-4 burst and the final margin equaled the biggest of the afternoon.
 
A conventional three-point play by Carly Turnbull gave Monmouth its largest lead of the game at 7-4 and the Scots still led 12-10 in the final two minutes of the first period. Baskets by Alexis Jones (Marist HS, Chicago, Ill.) and Maddy Murillo (Antioch HS, Antioch, Ill.) gave Augustana a 14-12 edge before a Gallis field goal tied it at 14-all after one.
 
Monmouth achieved one final tie at 18-18 midway through the second quarter, but an Anderson bucket gave the Vikings a lead they wouldn't relinquish. A Kramer field goal pushed the lead to 25-18—the largest of the first half, but the visitors closed the period with a 6-3 run, as Gallis' bucket in the last minute drew the Scots to within 28-24 at the break.
 
Kramer tallied a game-high 18 points and Anderson joined her in double digits with 16, along with a game-high seven assists. Jones scored nine and Lopez eight and each had team highs of six rebounds and three steals. Murillo added eight points in 13 minutes off the bench. Turnbull led four Scots in doubles figures with 16 points.
 
Augustana finished 30 of 59 (.508) from the floor, six of 10 (.600) from three-point range and 13 of 19 (.684) from the foul line. Monmouth shot .446 (25-56) from the floor, .267 (4-15) from beyond the arc and .875 (7-8) from the charity stripe. The Vikings had a 35-30 edge on the glass and committed 16 turnovers while forcing 22.
 
Beinborn's crew moves back into CCIW play on Wednesday, January 2, travelling to Elmhurst to face the Bluejays. Tipoff at Faganel Hall is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.