KENOSHA, Wis. - The Carthage College women's basketball team dominated the visiting Augustana College Vikings on Saturday afternoon at Tarble Arena, winning by a score of 68-56 - a final score which doesn't entirely reflect the separation created by the home team in the first half of play. 



 

• Final score: Carthage 68, Augustana 56. 
• Location: Tarble Arena - Kenosha, Wisconsin. 
• Records: Carthage 4-5 (2-1 CCIW), Augustana 7-4 (2-2 CCIW).  

 
 

• Carthage exploded for six threes out of the gate and doubled up Augustana in the opening quarter of play. Spear (three), Ester (two), and Knight (one) each buried a three to give Carthage an early, sizable advantage. 
• Augustana turned the ball over five times in the first quarter, aiding Carthage's early offensive assault. 
• The second quarter proved to be very similar to the first; the Firebirds began quarter two on a 7-0 run, holding the Vikings scoreless in the first four minutes. A three by Lauren Knight followed by consecutive triples by Emma Thistle ballooned the home team's lead to 22. A mini-burst by Ayanna Ester and a quarter-closing layup by Elena Knebel extended the Firebirds lead to 24. 
• Spear hit a pair of threes early in the penultimate quarter, giving Carthage a 26-point cushion. Augustana responded with an 8-2 run and cut the Carthage lead to 19 heading into the final ten minutes. 
• The Vikings defense showed fight, only surrendering eight points to its opponent in the fourth quarter. However, Carthage's lead was too large for the Vikings to surmount and the home team pulled away with an impressive victory. 
• The Firebirds led wire to wire in the win despite surrendering 16 second chance points and 38 points in the paint. Carthage was aided by incredible shooting including 13-19 (68.4%) from three, and active hands defensively (18 Augustana turnovers). 

 

• Margueret Spear knocked down five of her six tries from distance en route to an uber-efficient 18-point performance. The five three-pointers set a new career best for Spear. Margueret also hauled in four rebounds, dished out two assists, and blocked a shot. 
• Ester and Knight also knocked down multiple threes in efficient offensive performances. Ester shot 4-7 from the field, recording 14 points, while Knight dropped 11 points on 4-6 shooting. 
• The Firebirds recorded nine steals as a team; Ester, Knebel, and Barrett each netted two steals. 

 

• Carthage will play one more game at home before heading to Tennessee for its winter break trip, matching up with Benedictine on Tuesday, December 20 starting at 5 p.m.