ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings women's basketball team returns to the Carver Center on Saturday, February 22 for the final regular season game against the No. 4 Illinois Wesleyan Titans.
The Vikings enter the contest with a 10-14 overall record and 6-9 in conference play. The team returns to action after falling to the Carroll Pioneers last Saturday by a score of 103-63. Caroll scored first with a pair of free throws but Augie quickly followed with a layup by Kadence Tatum to even the score. Both teams went back and forth in shots before the Pioneers obtained the next 12 points. Paige Melton added two after attempts at the free throw stripe to get within 12 but Carroll put up eight more. With 23 seconds left in the first quarter, Audrey Erickson notched two free throws but the Pioneers led 31-12 after 10 minutes of play. In the second quarter, Carroll pulled away with a 21-16 margin. Augie converted an eight-point run with points from Cali Papez, Tia Lewis, and Melton to enter halftime with a 52-28 score.
Returning to the court, the Pioneers outscored Augie 29-15 in the third quarter. The Vikings hung around in the fourth frame with a 22-20 margin before the game ended with its final score of 103-63.
Erickson led the team with 15 points and two steals, while Melton notched 12 points. Papez and Lewis added 10 points apiece, while Lewis also had five rebounds and a steal.
Illinois Wesleyan enters the contest with an overall record of 23-1 and 14-1 in CCIW action. The Titans return to action after a 79-55 victory over North Central on Wednesday. The team shot 47 percent in field goals, with 32 points in the paint. Sawyer White led the team with 15 points, while Ava Bardic followed with 14 points and four assists. Illinois Wesleyan owns a 9-1 away record with their last road matchup being the win against North Central.
The Titans hold a 55-25 all-time series record over the Vikings. Illinois Wesleyan conquered their most recent matchup on January 8 in Bloomington, Ill. by a score of 75-38.
Start time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
