NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Augustana rallied from a double-digit deficit for the second time in three days Saturday, riding a big fourth quarter to a 57-51 win over North Central at Gregory Arena. Coach Mark Beinborn's Vikings improved to 2-1 on the season and in the CCIW, while the host Cardinals fell to 0-4 overall and in the league.
 
Augustana's comeback from down 12 points actually started late in the third period. Trailing 42-30, the Vikings whittled away with a Kylie Jozwick (Lakes HS, Lindenhurst, Ill.) layup and two Gabriela Loiz (Alleman HS, Davenport, Iowa) free throws to cut the deficit to eight (42-34). IxChel Leeuwenburgh's layup pushed the margin back to double digits, but she missed an opportunity to complete a conventional three-point play and Jozwick answered with a three-pointer that cut North Central's lead to 44-37 at the end of the third quarter.
 
Jozwick opened the fourth quarter with another triple and Loiz converted two free throws and a layup to pull Augustana even (44-44) for the first time all afternoon. Junior Lauren Hall (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) then came away with a steal and freshman Hannah Simmer (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) drilled another trey with 7:45 to play to complete a 13-0 Viking run that gave them their first lead of the day.
 
Two Mitrese Smith charity tosses stemmed the tide temporarily, but four different players scored as Augustana ran off another nine straight points to go up 56-46 inside the final minute. The visitors had started the fourth quarter on a 19-2 run and had outscored the Cardinals 26-4 since trailing by a dozen 11 minutes earlier. North Central tallied five of the final six points to cut the final margin to six.
 
Much like in Thursday's meeting at Carver Center, the Cardinals controlled things in the early going. Allison Person scored on the game's first possession and the Vikings would trail until the 8:15 mark of the fourth quarter. Jessica (eight) and Stephanie (six) Kowalczyk combined for 14 first-half points to lead North Central to a 31-29 lead at intermission.
 
Six different Cardinals scored as the hosts opened the third quarter with their own 10-0 run, going up 41-29 on a Page Desenberg free throw. The teams then swapped single free throw makes before Beinborn's crew started its closing run.
 
Loiz finished with a game-high 14 points. Hall scored 10, grabbed 16 rebounds—giving her 34 over the last two games—and added a game-high three steals. Jozwick and Simmer added nine apiece. Jessica Kowalczyk led North Central with 10 points.
 
Augustana dominated the boards by a 54-39 margin, converted 17 of 24 (.708) free throws and held the Cardinals to .167 (5-30) shooting from the field in the second half.
 
On Monday, February 1, Beinborn's bunch travels to Elmhurst to face the Bluejays in a contest postponed by inclement weather this past Monday. Tipoff at Faganel Hall is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.