ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The Augustana Vikings women's basketball team defeated the Webster Gorlocks on Saturday by a score of 77-38. 

In the opening period, the teams traded shots, with Webster taking the slight advantage until seven consecutive points from Augie drew the score even at 9-9. The two teams drew even once more before jump shots by Audrey Erickson and Carly Stone, closing the first 10 minutes of play with a score of 15-11. 

The Vikings cruised past the Gorlocks in the second outshooting the home team 21-6. Cali Papez started the period with a jump shot in the paint, and Ciara Hull moved the gap to eight. After two scoreless minutes, Giulia Milazzo created an 11-point gap after a layup, and the team saw this difference once more after a pair of free throws by Tia Lewis. Augie followed with eight straight points to lead by 19 with a score of 36-17 entering the halftime break. 

Returning to the court, Augustana had another big period outscoring the Gorlocks 24-7. Both teams tallied points in the first five minutes of play. At 5:39, Paige Melton began an 18-point run with Papez closing out the period with a 36-point difference with a score of 60-24 heading into the final 10 minutes of play. 

In the fourth, a jump shot by Melton moved the gap to as much as 37, and the two teams traded points. With 5:24 remaining, a three-pointer by Lexie Hayes moved the difference to 38 at 69-31. The team saw this lead once more after a layup by Hayes before Melton closed the game with a successful shot at the charity line to secure the 77-38 victory. 

Four different Vikings scored double-digits in the win, with Papez leading with 15 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Melton followed with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Jones had 12 points, six rebounds and three assists. 

With the win, Augie improves to 3-1 on the season and will be back in action on Dec. 3 for the first conference matchup against Illinois Wesleyan.