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This week
Augustana (12-3, 8-2 NSIC) will battle to keep its winning streak intact this weekend at Upper Iowa (1-14, 1-10 NSIC) and Winona State (11-6, 6-5 NSIC). The Vikings face UIU Friday at 6 p.m. in Fayette, Iowa, and WSU on Saturday at 5 p.m. in Winona, Minn.
Series records
Augustana is undefeated in its series against Upper Iowa, having won all eight contests since 2004-05. When UIU traveled to Sioux Falls last season, the Vikings cruised to a 101-53 victory. Augustana is 16-4 in its series against Winona State that dates back to 1984-85. Augustana hosted WSU last season and beat the Warriors 81-67. The Vikings then ended their 2010-11 campaign by dropping an 87-79 decision to the Warriors in Winona, Minn., during the first round of the conference tournament. Head coach
Dave Krauth is 8-0 against UIU and 15-4 against WSU. For more information on each series, turn to pages 9 and 10.
Last time out
In Augustana's only game last week, the Vikings snapped No. 6 Wayne State's six-game winning streak with a 71-52 victory Saturday in Sioux Falls.
NSIC honors
Alex Feeney (Bismarck, N.D.) led Augustana to its sixth-consecutive win with a 71-52 victory over No. 6 Wayne State to be named player of the week by the NSIC on Monday. Feeney netted a career and game-high 25 points and also picked up a game-high 11 rebounds to help the Vikings snap WSC's six-game winning streak. The double-double marked Feeney's fifth of the season. She was 9 of 16 from the field (56.3 percent) and 6 of 7 (85.7 percent) from the foul line in Augustana's lone game of the week. Feeney also tallied two assists and one block. This marks the second time in the past three weeks Feeney has been named NSIC Player of the Week. She also received the honor on Jan. 4.
Surefire starts
Augustana doesn't start its games on the wrong foot very often as it is currently outscoring its opponents 36.5 to 27.7 in the first half. The Vikings have been the leading team at halftime in every game on the season except one--against Concordia University, St. Paul on Jan. 2 when the Golden Bears held a 46-31 advantage over the Vikings. Last Saturday, Augustana was beating Wayne State 28-25 at the break.
Assisting the basket
When it comes to making passes, nobody in the NSIC compares to
Molly Hayes (Harrisburg, S.D.). She dished out seven assists against Wayne State to tie her season high. She also had seven assists earlier this season against Minnesota Duluth. Augustana recorded a total of 16 assists in the game--nine more than WSC. The only game in which the Vikings haven't tallied more assists than their opponent this season was agaisnt Minnesota State. Hayes leads the conference, averaging 4.91 assists per game (NSIC games only).
Lydia lights up the court
Lydia Nelson (Lake Preston, S.D.) poured in 17 points against Wanye State to tie her season high originally set Jan. 7 against Bemidji State. She was outstanding from the field, going 8 for 11 to lead the Vikings with a 72.7 field goal percent. Nelson and
Alex Feeney (Bismarck, N.D.) were the only two Vikings in double-figure scoring.
3-point drought
Augustana experienced a drought in 3-pointers made against Wayne State as
Alex Feeney (Bismarck, N.D.) and
Faith Tinklenberg (Pipestone, Minn.) made the Vikings' only two from behind the arc. Augustana connected on just 2 of 12 (16.7 percent) 3-pointers, while WSC made 7 of 20 (35.0 percent). It's the lowest of the season for the Vikings since their match up against Minnesota State when Augustana was 2 of 16 (12.5 percent) from behind the arc.
Banking 'em
In
Shaunteva Ashley's (Sioux Falls) 42 trips to the free throw line, the redshirt freshman has missed just four baskets. Ashley went 3 of 4 from the foul line last weekend against Wayne State but has recorded a perfect free-throw percentage in six games--including her best outing where she made 8 of 8 against U-Mary. Ashley is leading the NSIC in free-throw percentage at 89.2 (conference games only).
Viking points
The 71 points Augustana dropped on Wayne State is the fewest scored by the Vikings in a win this season since a 62-57 victory over Minnesota State on Dec. 3. Augustana is currently averaging 76.4 points per game and leads the conference in scoring at 78.4 points per game (NSIC games only).
800
Dave Krauth earned his 800th win as a head coach last Saturday against Wayne State. Prior to his tenure at Augustana, Krauth had teaching and coaching stints at Tri-Valley High School in Colton, S.D., and Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa. He earned 347 wins during his time as a prep coach and has accumulated another 453 victories at Augustana.
1,000 from Feeney
Alex Feeney (Bismarck, N.D.) is on track to record more than 1,000 points this season. The junior has collected 966 points in her three years on the court, including racking up 245 points so far this season to lead the team. The 2009-10 NSIC Freshman of the Year has a career average of 12.7 points per game.
National news
Augustana received the most votes it has had all season in the latest USA Today/ESPN national poll released Tuesday. The Vikings, who have not been nationally ranked this season, received 23 points. The complete poll is on page 8.
Next assists leader
Now in her fourth season as a starter for Augustana,
Molly Hayes (Harrisburg, S.D.) could become the next career-assists leader. Hayes is 44 assists away from taking over the top spot on the list. Last season, Hayes recorded 162 assists.
1. 569 Sandra Zwach (1993-97)
2. 525 Molly Hayes (2006-08, 2009-12)
Movin' on up
Molly Hayes (Harrisburg, S.D.) is creeping higher on the all-time scoring list and is now 69 points away from breaking into the top 10. Hayes is averaging 9.9 points per game and has scored 149 points this season.
1. 2001 Melissa Olson (1983-87)
2. 1978 Dana Nielsen (1989-93)
3. 1740 Sandra Zwach (1993-97)
4. 1667 Cindy Heyden (1979-82)
5. 1505
Megan Doyle (2007-11)
6. 1502 Heidi Morlock (1990-94)
7. 1476 Candi Nielsen (1984-88)
8. 1389 Tamera Oltmanns (1998-02)
9. 1384 Amy Puthoff (2005-09)
10. 1382 Lori Anderson (1987-91)
11. 1335 Katie Krauth (2001-05)
12. 1324 Julie Krauth (1989-93)
13. 1314 Molly Hayes (2006-08,09-12)
What the coaches say
Augustana has been selected third in the 2011-12 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll released Oct. 25. The Vikings received four first-place votes and 148 points in the poll voted on by the conference's 14 head coaches.
Rank Team (first-place votes) Points
1 Wayne State (7) 162
2 Winona State (2) 152
3 Augustana (4) 148
4 MSU Moorhead (1) 122
5 Minnesota Duluth 114
6 Northern State 113
7 Concordia University-St. Paul 109
8 U-Mary 92
9 Minnesota State 71
10 St. Cloud State 62
11 Minnesota, Crookston 44
12 Southwest Minnesota State 39
13 Bemidji State 31
14 Upper Iowa 15
Coaches' corner
Dave Krauth enters his 23rd season as the Vikings' head coach 2011-12 and has the most wins of any coach in Augustana history with a career record of 453-205. The veteran head coach has guided his squads to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances and tutored 45 all-conference players, including three conference MVPs. The Vikings posted a 20-10 record in 2010-11 and finished in a tie for fifth place in the NSIC at 13-9. Krauth is assisted by
Mark Stavenger, Megan Stadler,
Katie Bourk and Shawn Bergan.
History lesson
Augustana enters its 39th season of women's basketball in 2011-12. The Vikings are 646-391 all-time and have racked up 30 winning seasons with 21 of them occurring under head coach
Dave Krauth.
