ELMHURST, Ill. – The Augustana women's basketball team returns to conference play to begin the 2023 calendar year when they face the Elmhurst Bluejays for a road contest on Wednesday, January 4. 

The Vikings currently sit at 8-5 on the season, 2-2 in CCIW play, recently securing a narrow road win over Monmouth by a 71-68 score on December 30. A back-and-forth opening half saw Augie lead by five entering the locker room. Augie's aggressive defense held back the Fighting Scots in the third frame before three consecutive Monmouth scores from deep knotted the game up midway through the fourth quarter. A made corner three from Macy Beinborn with 1:30 remaining put the Vikings ahead by five. After Monmouth closed the gap to as little as two points, Augie executed a successful trip to the line to secure the non-conference matchup.

Beinborn led the way offensively with 21 points, while Corey Whitlock hauled in ten boards to go along with 14 points of her own. Augie generated 11 steals on defense, with Presley Case and Kadence Tatum notching three apiece.

The Bluejays enter Wednesday's contest with a 2-10 record, recently falling to Coe 72-47. Including the loss to the Kohawks, Elmhurst has dropped six of their last seven matchups dating back to November 30. The Bluejays are led by center Taylor Harazin, who averages 14.5 points per game and is the team leader in rebounds with 99. 

Augustana leads Elmhurst 48-28 in the all-time series. The most recent matchup between the conference opponents came on February 7, 2022 when the Bluejays downed the Vikings by a 55-44 score. Elmhurst pulled away late, outscoring Augie by plus-fourteen in the second half to secure their lone conference victory of the season.

Start time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from R.A. Faganel Hall. Stream link for Wednesday's conference bout can be found here.