ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings women's basketball team fell to the St. Catherine Wildcats in the home opener on Friday by a score of 67-58. 

In the opening quarter, Augie quickly gained the lead after a 10-point run in the first four minutes of play. The  Vikings saw this gap again after a three-point shot by Kadence Tatum to make a 13-3 score. The teams slowed offensively, with Augustana never losing the advantage and leading by five after 10 minutes of play with a score of 17-12. 

The Vikings outscored the Wildcats 16-9 in the second quarter, with Augie grabbing eight points in three minutes to stretch the gap to 13 at 25-12. St. Catherine got within eight, but three-pointers from Carly Stone and Giulia Milazzo put Augie ahead by double-digits once more. After three scoreless minutes, Ciara Hull created the largest difference of 14 after a layup in the paint. The Wildcats grabbed the last successful shot of the half, but Augie led 33-19.

Returning to the court, free throws by Audrey Erickson grabbed the 14-point gap once more. The Wildcats followed with an 11-2 run to cut the gap to one at 38-37. A successful shot by Tia Lewis pulled the Vikings ahead once more before St. Catherine drew the score even at 40-40 with two free throws. The visitors found their first lead of the night with two more shots at the charity line. The teams tied the game two more times, with the Wildcats closing the third period with a shot behind the arc to lead 47-44 entering the final 10 minutes of play.

In the fourth, Erickson drew the score even after a three-point shot, but St. Catherine pulled ahead once more. After four minutes with no points, the Wildcats stretched the gap to seven before the Vikings followed with four points of their own to get within one at 54-53. The visitors created a 10-point gap before Erickson pulled the gap to single digits after a three-pointer straight off a timeout. St. Catherine clinched two more free throws to close out the game with a score of 67-58.

Erickson led the team with 12 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Paige Melton followed with 11 points and five rebounds, while Cali Papez grabbed six shots off the glass. 

With the loss, Augie moves to 1-1 on the season and will be back in action tomorrow for the consolation game of the Hyatt Place Tournament against Greenville.