ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – The Augustana women's basketball team (6-6, 0-3) returned to action tonight with a fast-paced affair against the North Park Vikings (10-3, 3-2).
 
Augustana started the contest with an impressive display of offense and defense in the first period. The host Vikings scored 23 points in the opening quarter and held the visiting Vikings to just 13. North Park bounced back and narrowed the deficit by the end of the second period but still trailed 38-29.
 
Any Augustana momentum was erased quickly after the halftime break as North Park dominated much of the second half. NPU utilized stingy defense to outscore Augie 19-9 in the third quarter and 22-17 in the fourth. In the final moments of the game, North Park grabbed the lead at 61-60 and held on for the victory.
 
Gabriela Loiz was one of three Augie players in double-figures and led the Vikings with 18. Macy Beinborn added 13 while Kylie Jozwik posted 12 including a pair of three-pointers. Lauren Hall cleaned up on the glass for Augie with a team-best nine rebounds.
 
North Park also had three players score double -digits including Esther Miller's game-high 20, Lauren Lee with 17, and Jayla Johnson with 12. Miller completed an impressive double-double with 15 total rebounds.
 
Augustana will continue their busy week of basketball on Wednesday, Jan. 12 when the Elmhurst Bluejays visit the Carver Center.