NORMAL, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings women's basketball team took the court on Saturday for its first action of the 2026-27 season with an exhibition matchup against the Division 1 Illinois State Redbirds, where they fell 96-54 at CEFCU Arena.
Illinois State established an early advantage, taking a 31-12 lead through the opening quarter. Augie responded with a stronger second-quarter effort, scoring 19 points to keep pace with the Redbirds offensively. Giulia Milazzo helped lead the Vikings' attack, while Tia Lewis continued to provide production on both ends of the floor.
The Redbirds extended their lead in the second half, outscoring Augustana 24-13 in the third quarter and 23-10 in the fourth. Despite the deficit, the Vikings continued to compete on both ends of the floor, recording 14 steals and forcing Illinois State into 18 turnovers.
Lewis led the Vikings offensively, finishing with a team-high 15 points while adding seven rebounds, four assists, and six steals. Milazzo followed with 12 points, including two three-pointers, while Audrey Erickson contributed nine points and five rebounds. Augustana also received contributions from its bench, with Ciara Hull scoring five points and Lexi Hayes adding four. Mikayla Saas chipped in three points.
The Vikings finished the afternoon with 28 rebounds and 26 assists. Lewis paced the defensive effort with six steals, while Paige Melton added five assists to help facilitate the offense.
Augie will host the Hyatt Tournament on Nov. 13-14 to kick off the regular season at home.
