ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings women's basketball team defeated the Dubuque Spartans on Tuesday by a score of 71-55.

Dubuque scored first in the contest, but it was the only lead the team held as Augie quickly followed with seven points to grab the advantage. A layup from Kadence Tatum got the team to a 12-point difference with a little over two minutes remaining to make an 18-6 score. The Spartans collected the final points of the quarter but the Vikings led 18-8 after 10 minutes of action. Augustana held Dubuque to just 23 percent shooting in the first.

Cali Papez kicked off the second quarter with a hook shot to move the gap back to 12 before a step-back shot from Emma Berg moved the score to the largest gap of the game at 13. Dubuque used a late spurt to inch closer, but Augie remained ahead 35-29 heading into halftime. Carly Stone led the team in the first half with nine points, while Berg followed with eight. 

Returning to the court, the Vikings outscored the Spartans 20-11 and shot 61.5 percent from the field in the third. Dubuque shrunk the gap to as little as five before an eight-point run from Augie stretched it back out to 13. Tatum closed the quarter with a layup to make the lead 15 heading into the final 10 minutes of action. 

In the final 10 minutes of play, Tatum made a three-pointer from Melton to increase the gap to 18 at 58-40. Augie snatched four more points to create the game's largest lead with a 22-point gap, keeping Dubuque scoreless in the quarter until 6:04. The Vikings maintained the lead throughout the remainder of the frame and concluded the game with a 16-point difference with a score of 71-55. 

Berg led the team with 16 points, two assists, and two steals. Tatum followed with 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three steals, and a block. Stone collected 13 points and Cali Papez secured 10.