WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Carroll University women's basketball lost for the first time in seven games as the Augustana Vikings came to Van Male and defeated the Pioneers 67-58. Natalie Palzkill led the team with 18 points with 8-11 free throws made. Elizabeth Behrndt scored 10 and pulled in eight rebounds.
 
The Pioneers (12-4, 4-4 CCIW), who shot over 43% from the field during their win streak, were held to just 35.1% tonight, including 4-22 from behind the arc, and 14-24 at the free-throw line. The usually sound Carroll bench scored just six points, all from Megan Madsen (6 PTS, 2-5 3PM) in 11 minutes. Carroll turned the ball over 21 times but collected 11 steals, including three from Olivia Rangel (6 PTS). Carroll grabbed 12 offensive rebounds to Augie's six, but the Vikings grabbed more defensively, outmatching Carroll 30-26 on the glass.
 
The Pioneers looked great out of the gates, as Kate Christian (12 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST) scored five quick points to force an Augustana timeout less than a minute into the game. After taking a 7-1 Carroll lead, Augustana kicked off a 20-0 run in the final 6:15 of the first quarter. The Vikings knocked down miraculous jump shots, shooting 6-9 from three. Palzkill started the second quarter with a quick three-point play to cut the deficit to 11. Palzkill and the Pioneers started a 17-4 run to get the game back under control, fueled by nine points from the freshman, and eight points from Behrndt. Carroll led the Vikings 33-32 at halftime.
 
Augie and Carroll traded baskets to start the third quarter, but Augie started to move out in front, taking a seven-point lead with 3:56 left in the quarter. Augie moved the lead up to nine, but Palzkill nailed a jumper outside of the paint off a turnover to cut their lead down to seven going into the final quarter. The Pioneers scored just nine points and were 0-8 from beyond the arc in the third period. Foul trouble began to limit Carroll, as Augustana took a 10-point lead with 6:04 left in the game off free throws. The Vikings led again by as much as 14 with 3:11 left to play, as Palzkill went 5-8 at the free-throw line to try to get Carroll back into the action. Carroll fell short and ran out of time, after allowing Augustana to shoot 14-21 at the free-throw line in the final period.
 
The Pioneers get to stay home for Wednesday night's matchup, against the Thunder of Wheaton College. The Pioneers fell to the Thunder back in December, 50-62.