DUBUQUE, Iowa – Augustana opened play in the Loras Tip-Off Classic Friday afternoon, dropping a 65-46 decision to 17th-ranked Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The Vikings moved to 1-2 on the year, while the Titans improved to 2-0.
 
Senior Alexis Jones (Marist HS, Chicago, Ill.) and freshman Gabriela Loiz (Alleman HS, Davenport, Iowa) each had a pair of field goals as Coach Mark Beinborn's team grabbed an 8-2 lead. Oshkosh answered with seven straight points and a Leah Porath three-pointer gave the Titans their first lead at 9-8. A Loiz bucket at 1:10 pf the first quarter put Augustana on top one final time at 13-12, but Emily Higgins and Porath each scored to give UWO a 16-13 edge after one period.
 
Jones pulled the Vikings to within a point with the first basket of the second quarter, but Oshkosh responded with 11 straight to go up 27-15. A Nikki Arneson layup eventually gave the Titans a 32-17 advantage at the half.
 
Senior Mia Lambert (Macomb HS, Macomb, Ill.) opened the second half with a three-pointer before UWO continued to build its lead. An Emily Miller trey midway through the third period pushed the margin past 20 for the first time at 43-22 and Booke Freitag scored in the final minute to give the Titans a 53-30 edge going to the fourth quarter.
 
A Claire Staples basket to open the fourth gave Oshkosh its biggest lead of the night at 55-30 before Augustana whittled away. A Chaadah Hodges (Miller Career Academy, St. Louis, Mo.) bucket with 2:39 remaining trimmed the deficit to 63-46, with two free throws by UWO's Karsyn Rueth accounting for the final.
 
Jones and Loiz finished with 10 points each to lead the Vikings. Jones also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Porath had a game-high 22 points for the Titans.
 
Augustana finished 20 of 47 (.426) from the field, two of 10 (.200) from beyond the arc and four of 10 (.400) from the foul line. Oshkosh shot .481 (25-52) from the floor, .529 (9-17) from three-point range and .857 (6-7) from the free throw line. Rebounds were even at 24 apiece and the Vikings committed 17 turnovers to nine for UWO.
 
Beinborn's club will continue tournament play on Saturday, November 16 at noon. Augustana will face the loser of Friday's second semifinal between the host Duhawks and 24th-ranked Washington University.