ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings women's basketball team secured a big win over the Wheaton Thunder on Thursday by a score of 58-55.
The Vikings got off to a fast start, using a 16-0 run to begin the game with made shots from four players. Augie held the Thunder scoreless until 4:41 and followed with the next four points to lead 20-2. A layup by Kadence Tatum secured the team's gap of 21 with a score of 24-3 before the Thunder collected five straight points. Tia Lewis closed out the quarter with a layup for the Vikings to lead 26-8 after 10 minutes of play. In a low-scoring second quarter, Wheaton outscored Augie 7-2 to make it a 28-15 lead at halftime for Augustana.
Returning to the court, the Thunder got within seven early on in the third, but Augie followed with the next five points to make it a 33-21 game. A three-point shot from Emma Berg at 4:48 pushed Augie's lead back out to 14. Wheaton charged back with a 12-2 run over the course of the next three minutes to get within four at 41-37 before Audrey Erickson's buzzer beater pushed it back to seven entering the fourth quarter.
Wheaton kicked off the final period with a made shot, but Berg's fifth three-pointer of the game gave Augie some separation at 48-40. The two teams continued to trade baskets until Cali Papez pushed the differential out to double figures with just over four minutes to play. The Thunder answered with the game's next eight points to get within two at 52-50, holding the Vikings scoreless for nearly three minutes. Baskets by Papez and Erickson canceled out a pair of successful trips for Wheaton before a three-pointer by the home team made it a one-point game at 56-55. Papez' layup with 11 seconds left gave the Vikings a three-point lead and one final defensive stop sealed the road victory.
Erickson and Berg led the team with 15 points apiece, while Erickson also had seven rebounds and four assists. Paige Melton and Papez each added nine points apiece.
With the win, Augie moves to 10-13 on the season and 6-8 in conference play. The Vikings will stay on the road on Saturday, February 15 for a conference battle
