ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Statistics don't always tell the story but in North Central's 70-63 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin victory over Augustana on Wednesday, January 22 it would be hard to argue with the numbers. The visiting Cardinals shot .489 (23-47) from the field and made 50 percent (13-26) of their shots from three point range. On the other hand, the home standing Vikings shot just .379 (26-66) from the floor and made only four of 19 three point field goals (.211).
 
In the decisive second half North Central made 11 of 20 shots from the floor (.550) and eight of 14 (.533) from three point range. In that same time period Augustana could connect on just 13 of 32 (.406) from the field and three of 10 (.300) from three point range.
 
The Vikings broke on top early and had an 8-2 advantage in the early going before things North Central grabbed an 18-15 lead after one period on a three point field goal by Jessica Kowalczyk. The Cardinals raced out to a 27-17 lead halfway through the second period but Augustana went on a 10-0 run started by a conventional three point play from senior Alexis Jones (Marist HS, Chicago, Ill.) and ended on two Jones free throws.
 
At halftime North Central had a 33-30 advantage and the Cardinals never gave that up in the second half. Allison Pearson scored 14 of her 21 points after intermission and she nailed four of seven three point field goals in the final 20 minutes of play. She ended up hitting seven of 12 from the field and five of nine from three point range and added two free throws for good measure.
 
With 4:07 left in the third quarter sophomore Daina Riser (Lake Park HS, Medinah, Ill.) scored on a fast break layup off an assist from senior Jeni Crane (Woodstock HS, Woodstock, Ill.). That cut the margin to 39-38 but North Central finished the stanza on a 12-2 run to take a 51-42 edge into the fourth and final quarter.
 
Pearson hit a pair of three point field goals as North Central opened the fourth with a 10-3 run to push the advantage to 17 points (52-45) with 6:51 left. Augustana battled back and with 1:10 left senior Mia Lambert (Macomb HS, Macomb, Ill.) nailed a three point field goal to cut the margin to seven (65-58). Pearson made two free throws with :38 left to bump the lead up to nine points (67-58).
 
The Vikings did get it down to five points (68-63) on a three point field goal by Jones but it came with just 10 seconds left on the clock. Two free throws from Kowalczyk in the final five seconds accounted for the final score of 70-63.
 
Augustana got 20 points from Jones, but she only took 12 shots (and made seven) while Lambert joined her in double figures with 14 points. Sophomore Lauren Hall (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) led the team in rebounds with 11 while scoring seven points.
 
The Vikings did force 22 North central turnovers but were outrebounded 36-31. Pearson led North Central with 21 points and Rebekah Foley added 12 while Lyndsay Brennan and Kowalczyk each scored 10.
 
Augustana is now 8-9 overall and 3-5 in the CCIW while North Central is 8-9 and 4-4. The Vikings play at Carroll on Saturday, January 25 at 2:00 p.m.