ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings women's basketball team dominated the North Park Vikings on Wednesday by a score of 72-49.

In the opening quarter, the Vikings quickly pulled away from North Park after scoring the first six points with shots from three different individuals. The visitors got within one at a score of 8-7 with 6:25 to play, but Augie closed the half on a 22-0 run to lead by 23 points with a score of 30-7. As a team, Augie shot 68.4 in field goals and held North Park to just two made field goals in the frame.

In the second, the scoring run continued after back-to-back shots from Kadence Tatum and Audrey Erickson to move the gap to 27. The visitors found the next seven points to get within 20 before four consecutive free throws by Carly Stone and Tia Lewis. With 39 seconds remaining, a layup from Jazmeriah Jones secured the team's largest lead of 28. A free throw from North Park closed out the quarter, but Augie led 43-16 into the halftime break. Erickson led the team after 20 minutes of play with 13 points, three assists, and four steals. Cali Papez followed with 11 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.

Returning to the court, it was an evenly-played third quarter, with Augie holding a slight 20-19 advantage through the next 10 minutes of play. Augustana secured the first five points of the quarter with shots by Tatum and Papez to stretch the gap to as many as 32 at 8:34. The Vikings maintained this advantage on three different occasions, the last time after a three-point shot from Carly Stone at 4:01. Augie held the double-digit lead after Lewis notched a driving layup to enter the final quarter with a 28-point lead with a score of 63-35. North Park shrunk the differential with a plus-five fourth quarter to bring it to its final score of 72-49.

As a team, Augie shot 46.9 percent in field goals, while holding North Park to just 31.4 percent. Papez led the team with 18 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks. Erickson followed with 15 points, three assists, and four steals. Tatum and Jones put up nine points apiece, while Tatum also grabbed nine shots off the glass, five assists, and three steals. 

With the win, Augie moves to 9-12 on the season and 5-7 in conference play. The Vikings will return to action on Saturday, February 8 as they head to Millikin.