DUBUQUE, Iowa -- The Augustana Vikings women's basketball team defeated the Loras Duhawks on Monday by a score of 54-52 in their first game of the Paxton's Pack Classic. 

In the opening quarter, the Duhawks found the early lead after a six-point run in the first two minutes of play. Loras pulled away by seven before a pair of free throws by Ciara Hull and a layup by Paige Melton moved the gap to three with 5:30 on the clock. The team found this difference twice more after shots by Hull and Jazmeriah Jones. The Duhawks stretched the gap to nine after a pair of free throws with 26 seconds in the quarter to lead 20-11.

The Vikings found the first four points in the second quarter to get within five at 20-15. Loras maintained the advantage and created the largest gap of 13. The teams traded shots in the final three minutes of the half, but the Duhawks led by 12 with a score of 36-24 entering the halftime break. 

Returning to the court, shots by Cali Papez and Carli Stone pulled the gap within eight at 36-28. The team saw this again before Papez squashed the difference to seven after a layup in the paint with 6:39 on the clock. Loras regained the double-digit advantage until 31 seconds, when a fast break layup by Papez off a Audrey Erickson steal moved the score to 45-37 heading into the final 10 minutes of play. 

In the fourth quarter, Augie outscored the Duhawks 17-7, starting with an eight-point run by the Vikings to even the score at 45-45. Loras pushed ahead once more until a 7-2 run drew the score even at 52 with 1:19 left in the game. Both teams tallied turnovers before Augustana called a 30-second timeout. After the break, Papez blocked a shot by the Duhawks and snatched the rebounds to give the Vikings possession with 19 seconds on the clock. Loras called a timeout and followed with a foul on Tatum to give her a chance at the charity line, where she grabbed one shot. Papez grabbed the offensive rebound, and the Duhawks fouled Erickson to put her at the line with three seconds remaining. Erickson made one to make a 54-52 score, and Loras collected the rebound, but with two seconds on the clock, Tatum stole the Duhawks' possession to seal the victory. 

Eight different Vikings scored, with Papez leading with a double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Tatum followed with 11 points and five rebounds, while Erickson had five assists. 

With the win, Augie improves to 5-5 on the season and will be back in action tomorrow for day two of the Paxton's Pack Classic to battle Dubuque.