ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings women's basketball team returns home on Saturday, December 9 to host the North Park Vikings for their first conference showdown of the season inside the Carver Center.
The Vikings return home after a close 71-66 victory over Dubuque on Tuesday , which improved Augie's overall record to 5-4. Augie tallied 10 made field goals in the first, while holding the Spartans to five and also had the advantage in rebounds at 15-4. Augustana led 24-17 heading into the second quarter. The Spartans inched closer at halftime, out-scoring the Vikings 16-14 in the frame. Free throw shots maintained the Vikings' advantage with five of the team's 14 points coming from the line.
In the third quarter, Augie out-shot the Spartans 46 percent to 33 percent, but Dubuque posted an extra made three and three additional free throws. A last-second basket from Corey Whitlock extended the score to 53-50 with 10 minutes to go. The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth battle between both teams. The Vikings held a lead of as many as five, but the Spartans hung around and eventually claimed the lead at 61-60 with less than two minutes remaining. Moments later, Augustana broke a 63-63 tie with four straight free throws and fended off a late push from the home team to hang on for the five-point win. Emma Berg was the top scorer for Augie with 15 points. Whitlock and Kadence Tatum were close behind with 12, while Whitlock also contributed eight rebounds, one assist, and two steals.
North Park enters the contest with an overall record of 2-6 and 0-2 in conference play. The Vikings are heading to the Carver Center after a mid-week conference loss against Carroll, where the final score was 77-51. North Park shot only 34 percent from the field in the first half, but was able to get to the free throw line 11 times, knocking down 10. Their defense was stout throughout the first half, forcing Carroll into tough shots, as the Pioneers shot 24.24 percent from the field. Carroll out-score North Park 48-24 in the second half to run away with the game. North Park is 1-3 on the road this season.
Augustana holds a 43-37 all-time series record over North Park, winning both matchups in the 2022 season. The last meeting was on February 8, where Augie earned a 72-58 victory over North Park in Rock Island.
Tip-off for Saturday is scheduled for 5 p.m.
