SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Coming off a season in which they won 23 games, head coach Dave Krauth and the Augustana women's basketball team have returned to the court for the start of the 2017-18 season.

The Vikings posted a 23-8 record last season, making it the 12th time in the last 13 years they have won at least 20 games under the guidance of coach Krauth, who's beginning his 29th year as the Augustana women's basketball coach.

"We have a great group of kids to work with," Krauth said. "I'm really looking forward to the year, but we realize that there will be challenges along the way."

Four of the top five scorers in 2016 return for the Vikings this season, including top scorer Logan O'Farrell. The senior from Summit, S.D., was the 2016 NSIC defensive player of the year and averaged 12.2 points and 7.6 rebounds-per-contest in her 31 starts. The 1,000 point scorer led Augustana from the free-throw line, shooting 83 percent.

"I'm really hopeful for this year," O'Farrell said. "With this many girls coming back, we have experience and we have to use that to our advantage."

Lynsey Prosser, who joins O'Farrell as the two Vikings to start in all 31 games last season, is the team's leading returning three-point shooter. The junior guard knocked down 41 shots from behind the three-point line last season at a 30 percent clip.

As a team last season, Augustana led the NSIC in scoring offense and was 20th nationally, averaging over 77 points-per-game.

The Vikings got it done on the defensive side of the ball as well, hauling in the most rebounds and snagging the most steals in the conference.

Augustana opens up the 2017-18 regular season on Monday, Nov. 13 as the Vikings host Truman State inside the Elmen Center. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

---GoAugie.com---