MONMOUTH, Ill. – In the first six games the season Augustana has struggled in the second quarter but on Monday, November 26 in a non-conference women's game at Monmouth the Vikings changed things around. The result was a 65-52 win over the Fighting Scots and it came after a slow start, which was followed by an explosive second quarter, something Head Coach Mark Beinborn had yet to see this year.
 
Monmouth jumped out to an 18-11 lead after one period but the Vikings had the answer in the second and it started on the defensive end. Augustana held the hosts scoreless for almost four minutes to start the stanza as Monmouth missed its first four shots. That allowed the Vikings to claw back into the game as back-to-back baskets by freshman Gabriela Loiz (Alleman Catholic HS, Davenport, Iowa) and senior Jeni Crain (Woodstock HS, Woodstock, Ill.) cut the lead to 18-15 with 6:25 to play.
 
Augustana eventually took the lead with 2:55 remaining before halftime on a basket by senior Alexis Jones (Marist HS, Chicago, Ill.) off an assist by Justice Edell (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.). A three point basket by senior Mia Lambert (Macomb HS, Macomb, Ill.) pushed the margin to 27-23 at the 1:39 mark and that is the way it stood at intermission.
 
The Vikings outscored the Scots 16-5 in the second quarter.
 
The third period was a see-saw affair and with 3:36 to play things were tied at 38-38 after Monmouth's Carly Turnbull made one of two free throws. Loiz hit a three point field goal with 3:10 left to give Augustana a 41-38 lead. It was an advantage that Beinborn's team would never relinquish.
 
Sparked by Loiz' basket the Vikings ended the third quarter on a 12-1 run to take a 50-39 lead into the fourth, and final, quarter. Loiz had a conventional three point play at 1:36, Edell sank four free throws and Loiz finished the run with a basket with just :16 left to play.
 
The Augustana advantage never got below seven points in the fourth and Lambert's three point field goal with 1:33 to play pushed the lead to 15 (65-50).
 
Augustana didn't shoot very well in the early going, hitting just nine of 32 shots from the floor (.281) in the first half but in the second the Vikings connected on 13 of 27 (.481). Loiz led the way with 14 points while Crain and Lambert each had 11 and sophomore Lauren Hall (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) contributed nine points and eight rebounds. Jones and freshman Macy Beinborn (Pleasant Valley HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) each tossed in eight points.
 
The Vikings enjoyed a 39-32 edge in the rebounding department over the Scots, who were led in scoring by Jordan Kintigh with 15 points.
 
Augustana is now 3-4 on the season while Monmouth suffered its first loss and is 4-1. The Vikings will host Webster on Saturday, November 30 at 1:00 p.m. in the Carver Center.