Augustana Women's Basketball Falls to Illinois State in Exhibition

Augustana Women’s Basketball Falls to Illinois State in Exhibition

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The Augustana Vikings women’s basketball team opened their 2026-27 campaign on Saturday with a challenging exhibition matchup, falling 96-54 to the Division 1 Illinois State Redbirds at CEFCU Arena in Normal, Illinois.

While the scoreboard reflected a large deficit, the game tested the Vikings' readiness for the start of their regular season.

According to the official report from the Augustana athletics department, the Redbirds established an early rhythm, pulling ahead 31-12 in the opening quarter.

The Vikings adjusted their defensive posture in the second quarter, finding more consistency on the offensive end to score 19 points, matching the pace of their Division 1 counterparts for that frame. Despite that mid-game surge, the Redbirds proved difficult to contain, outscoring Augustana 24-13 in the third quarter and 23-10 in the fourth.

The final margin may have been lopsided, but the box score reveals a team that remained active on the defensive glass and in transition. The Vikings recorded 14 steals and forced Illinois State into 18 turnovers throughout the afternoon. This defensive aggression was a focal point for the squad, who finished the contest with 28 rebounds and 26 assists.

Augustana vs Illinois State – Women's Basketball – Postgame Press Conference – Nov. 7, 2026

Tia Lewis paced the Vikings with a standout performance, recording a team-high 15 points. Her contributions extended well beyond the scoring column, as she added seven rebounds, four assists, and six steals to her stat line.

Giulia Milazzo followed with 12 points, including a pair of three-pointers, while Audrey Erickson contributed nine points and five rebounds. The team also saw depth production from the bench, with Ciara Hull adding five points and Lexi Hayes chipping in four.

The transition from exhibition play to the regular season schedule happens quickly for the Vikings. Following the result in Normal, the team turns its attention toward home-court preparation for the upcoming Hyatt Tournament. The tournament, which begins on November 13, marks the official start of the team’s regular season schedule.

For a program looking to synthesize new rotations and integrate bench contributions, the exhibition served as a practical baseline. The ability to force 18 turnovers against a Division 1 opponent suggests a defensive identity is already taking shape, even as the team works to refine its offensive execution under the pressure of higher-division competition.

The coaching staff will have five days to address the gaps seen in the second half before the tournament tip-off.

The Augustana Vikings return to the floor on November 13 at 5 p.m. to host the Hyatt Tournament, an event that will define the early trajectory of their season.

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