DECATUR, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings women's basketball team saw their quest for a CCIW Tournament championship come up short in the title game on Saturday, falling to the No. 1 seeded Millikin Big Blue in their home gym by a final of 57-52.

The two teams battled near-even in the opening frame of the championship final, seeing the Vikings lead by one entering the second after a defensive battle to begin the game. Millikin bounced back in the second period, seizing a five-point advantage at the 6:15 mark before an eight-point run in response helped Augustana reclaim the lead. The Vikings held on to a slight 25-23 advantage entering the half. Gabriela Loiz was the focal point of the Vikings offense, notching 11 points through the first 20 minutes of action.

The third quarter alone saw six ties as the two teams continued to trade baskets. After Augie broke away from a 36-36 deadlock on a made jumper from Emma Berg, the Big Blue rattled off five straight points to close the period, taking a 41-38 lead into the final quarter. Millikin grew their margin to six on two separate occasions through the first four minutes of the fourth, but Augie steadily cut into Millikin's lead, tying the game with just under two minutes remaining on an Emily Brenneisen triple. The Big Blue answered with a conventional three-point play and halted the Vikings on their final two possessions to hang on for the five-point win.

Berg led the scoring effort for Augustana with 15 points, while Loiz trailed just behind with 13. The senior narrowly missed out on a triple-double, also adding nine rebounds and eight assists. The Vikings held the Big Blue to just 30 percent shooting on the night and 16 percent from behind the three-point line, but were outscored at the free throw line by 14 points. 

Augustana drops to 19-9 with the loss. The Vikings will now wait to hear if they will qualify for the NCAA DIII National Tournament. The selection show is set for Monday, February 27 at 1:30 p.m.