The Monmouth College women’s basketball team fell behind early and never caught up in an 89-68 road non-conference loss at Augustana on Tuesday. The Fighting Scots (2-3) have a week off for Thanksgiving before two home Midwest Conference games next week.
The Vikings jumped out to a 7-0 lead before Kynlee Stearns (Gilson, Illinois) made a free throw. Ashley Jones (Abingdon, Illinois) made the first field goal and Kiersten Cox (Illinois City, Illinois) scored for a 14-5 game. Cox scored again and Averi Rangel (Moline, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer as the Vikings led 21-10. Cox hit the last four points for the Scots as she scored eight in the quarter with Augustana leading 28-14.
The hosts started the second with a 4-0 run before Jones and Rangel scored. Ella Goodrich (Minonk, Illinois) scored four straight and Cox reached double digits with the Vikings up 40-26. Augustana scored the next 10 before Stearns made two free throws. Augustana ended the half on a 12-2 run for a 62-32 lead.
Monmouth won the third quarter 21-12 as Goodrich scored 10 points in the period. Rangel added five, including a 3-pointer and Jones was 4-for-4 at the line. Monmouth cut the deficit to 18 before the Vikings scored at the end of the quarter to lead 74-53.
Jones hit two free throws to start the fourth quarter and Goodrich scored in the paint. Allie Hoy (Woodland, Illinois) scored on a fast break and Jones added another layup as Monmouth trailed by 18 with 7:09 to play. Brooklyn Sellers (Freeport, Illinois) made two free throws and the lead bounced between 16 and 19 until Augustana took an 89-68 lead with 31 seconds left on free throws.
Goodrich and Jones both scored 16 points while Rangel added 12 and Cox had 10. Jones led the Scots with six rebounds and three steals. Stearns led the Scots with four assists.
MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Jones has scored in double figures in four of the five games this season … Monmouth shot 50% from the field in the first half but the Vikings shot 61% … Monmouth was 20-for-28 at the free throw line … Jones made 8-of-10 at the line … Rangel made two 3-pointers … Augustana has won ten straight in the series since the Scots won in Rock Island on Dec. 19, 2013 … Augustana leads the all-time series 34-5 … The Scots next game is the MWC opener against Lake Forest at 5:30 p.m. at home on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
***Courtesy of Nathan Baliva, Monmouth College***
