KENOSHA, Wis. -- The Augustana Vikings women's basketball team fell to the Carthage Firebirds on Saturday by a score of 61-52.
The Vikings scored first with a hook shot from Cali Papez, but Carthage quickly followed with a made shot of its own. Augie followed with four consecutive points with shots from Audrey Erickson and Papez to take an early five-point advantage. The Firebirds clasped an 8-0 run to overtake the Vikings with a little over four minutes remaining. Erickson closed out the quarter with a three-pointer to get within two, but Carthage led 15-13 after 10 minutes of play.
In the second quarter, Papez quickly evened the score and Augie followed with five more points with shots from Paige Melton and Carly Stone to move out in front 20-15. The Firebirds followed with an eight-point run to snatch a three-point advantage. A free throw from Stone got the Vikings within one but Carthage closed out the half with four straight points to lead 31-26 at halftime. Papez led with 10 points after 20 minutes of action, while Stone followed with six and Erickson had five.
Returning to the court, the Firebirds outscored Augie 12-8 with four of Carthage's points coming from the charity line. Papez started the quarter with a jump shot to get the Vikings within three, but an 11-0 run by the Firebirds created a 14-point advantage with three minutes remaining. Papez put up six consecutive points for Augie, but Carthage led 43-34 into the final quarter.
Augustana drew even with the Firebirds with an 18-18 margin in the quarter, with a three-pointer from Emma Berg to start the final 10 minutes of action. Carthage maintained the lead throughout the quarter with Augie getting as close as four after a six-point run at 3:32 to make a 54-50 score. The final points from both teams came for the free throw line with the Firebirds getting six attempts, while the Vikings had two to make a 61-52 final score.
Papez narrowly missed a double-double with 20 points, nine rebounds, a block, and an assist. Melton grabbed eight shots off the glass and had four assists, while Kadence Tatum notched two steals and two assists.
With the loss, Augie moves to 7-11 on the season and 3-6 in conference action. The Vikings will stay on the road on Wednesday, January 29 to battle Elmhurst.
