The Carthage College women's basketball team (15-6, 6-4 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) pounded CCIW-opponent Augustana College (Ill., 5-16, 1-9 CCIW), 85-60, on Saturday, Feb. 5 at the Roy J. Carver Center in Rock Island, Ill.  The win left the Lady Reds in fourth place in the league, trailing first-place Illinois Wesleyan University, second-place Wheaton College (Ill.) and third-place Millikin University.

The Lady Reds have won 13 in a row from the Vikings thru the 2010-11 season, including this year's earlier meeting, 71-33, on Jan. 15 at Tarble Arena.  Augustana's last home win over Carthage was a 76-66 decision on Jan. 29, 2005.

Augustana opened up a 15-10 lead at 15:35.  The Vikings clung to a 20-18 lead before the Lady Reds gained a 21-20 advantage at 10:57 on a three-pointer by Dani Ripkey.  Ripkey's trey prompted a 29-3 Carthage run over the next eight minutes that propelled the Lady Reds to a 24-point lead, 47-23, at 2:08.  Carthage led by 24 at halftime, 50-26.  The margin went to 27 points on three occasions in the second half before going to 29 points, 78-49, at 6:05.  The Lady Reds went on to win by 25, 85-60.

Carthage shot 50 percent (30-60), including nine-of-21 from three-point range, while Augustana shot just 39 percent (20-51), including seven-of-20 three-pointers.  The Lady Reds out-rebounded the Vikings, 37-29, while Augustana turned the ball over 21 times to just 11 for Carthage.  Four Carthage players scored in double figures.  Heather Gilmore (Sr., Des Moines, Iowa/Pleasant Hill-Southeast) led the way with 15 points on five-of-eight field goals, including two-of-five three pointers, along with three-of-four free throws and four assists.  Dani Ripkey (Jr., Deerfield, Ill.) had 12 points on four-of-seven three-pointers.  Cory Bazany (Jr., Elgin, Ill./Burlington Central) and Kristi Schmidt (Fr., Bloomington, Ill./Normal-Community) came off the bench to add 10 points each. 

Kristen Fox led the Vikings with 17 points and five rebounds, while Alyssa Neitzel added 14 points.  Carthage plays host to CCIW-opponent Elmhurst College (9-11, 4-5 CCIW) on Tuesday, Feb. 8 in a 7:30 p.m. game at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis.