ELMHURST, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings women's basketball team fell to the Elmhurst Bluejays on Wednesday by a score of 80-71.
The Bluejays scored first but Augie followed with an 11-point run with shots from Audrey Erickson and Cali Papez to lead by seven at 5:41. Elmhurst got within one, but a pair of free throws from Paige Melton stretched the gap to three. The Bluejays evened the game with 48 seconds remaining before a buzzer-beater shot by Lexi Hayes clinched the 17-15 advantage after 10 minutes of action.
A pair of shots from the charity line from Elmhurst drew the score even to start the second quarter. Papez sent in back-to-back shots to regain the 21-17 lead, but it was later followed by a six-point run by Elmhurst to put the home team up in front by five with 4:47 remaining. Elmhurst closed the quarter with a jump shot to secure a 39-33 lead heading into halftime. Papez led with 10 points and eight rebounds after 20 minutes of action.
Returning to the court, the Vikings out-scored Elmhurst 25-19 in the third quarter with 10 of their points coming from the free throw line. After facing a deficit of as many as 12 early on, the Vikings fought back before a 9-0 scoring run allowed them to claim their first lead of the second half at 54-51. The two teams exchanged baskets through the final two minutes of the half to result in a 58-58 deadlock entering the fourth.
In the final quarter, the Bluejays notched the first five points in the quarter and Kadence Tatum followed with a layup to get the Vikings back within three. From there, Elmhurst used an 11-3 run to reach a lead of double figures and hit eight free throws in the frame to maintain its distance and secure the nine-point victory.
Melton led the team with 17 points and six rebounds, while Erickson followed with 15 points. Papez secured a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
With the loss, Augie moves to 7-12 on the season and 3-7 in conference play. The Vikings will return to the Carver Center on Saturday, February 1 to host the North Central Cardinals.
