ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The Augustana Vikings women's basketball team fell to the No. 18 Wash-U Bears on Friday by a score of 82-54. 

In the opening quarter, the Bears grabbed the early advantage after five consecutive points in the first two minutes of play. A three-pointer from Carly Stone moved the difference to one at 8-7 before four straight points by Cali Papez snatched the lead for the Vikings at 11-8. Wash-U drew the score even at 12 apiece and followed with five points to lead 17-12 after 10 minutes of action.

The teams traded shots until the home team moved the gap to double-digits with a score of 24-14. The Bears held the upper hand with a successful three-point shot by Stone moved the lead to seven at 26-19. Wash-U scored ahead with a 13-5 run with two minutes remaining in the half. Both teams put up points, but the Bears led 40-29 entering the halftime break. 

Returning to the court, the teams went back and forth with scoring before four points put Wash-U ahead 49-32. At 3:21, a three-pointer from Paige Melton squashed the gap to as much as 13, but the Bears grabbed the final 13 points to lead 65-41. In the fourth quarter, the teams traded shots, but Wash-U ran away with the 82-54 victory. 

Nine different Vikings scored in the games, with Stone and Papez leading with 12 points apiece. Erickson followed with nine points, while Melton had eight, and Kadence Tatum grabbed six shots off the glass. 

With the loss, Augie moves to 4-5 on the season and will be back in action on Dec. 29-30 for the Paxton's Pack Classic.