SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana women's basketball team returns to its homecourt inside the Sanford Pentagon on Friday and Saturday to host a pair of NSIC contests.
 
The Games
Augustana hosts Northern State at 5:30 p.m. Friday while Saturday's tip-off with MSU Moorhead is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The contest marks the only regular-season meetings between the two schools.
 
Friday's game will have athletes from Special Olympics competing at halftime.
 
The Wolves
The Northern women are 11-5 overall and 7-3 in the NSIC, having won four-straight games. Lexi Wadsworth leads the Wolves at 15.3 points per game while Brianna Kusler joins her in double digits at 13.9 points per game. Kusler ranks fourth in the NSIC with 8.2 rebounds per outing. The Wolves score 68.3 points per game while their opponents tally 64 points per contest.
 
Series History: Augustana leads 25-24; Augustana won last year's regular season and NSIC Tournament meetings and has won four-straight in the series. 
 
The Dragons
The Dragon women are the NSIC preseason favorites. Currently, MSUM is 8-2 in league play and 13-4 overall. Megan Hintz leads the Dragons at 15.2 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per outing. She scores at a 58 percent clip, second-best in the NSIC. The Dragons have won three-straight games. MSUM averages 73 points per game while its opponents tally 55.6.
 
Series History: Augustana leads 16-10; MSU Moorhead has won three-straight in the series.
 
The Vikings
Augustana earned its first NSIC weekend sweep of the season with victories over Upper Iowa and Winona State. The Vikings did not trail in either contest and used fast starts to push them to victory in both games. At Upper Iowa, Augustana cruised 37-19 halftime lead and benefitted from holding UIU to 1-of-12 shooting in the second quarter. The next night, Augie held the Warriors to 1-of-16 shooting in the opening quarter for a 15-3 lead and 33-18 halftime advantage.
 
Senior Abby Hora is the team's leading scorer at 12.9 points per game while freshman Lauren Sees is at 12.1 points per contest. Senior Hana Beyer leads the team at 5.7 rebounds per contest and is coming off a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds at Winona State.
 
One Last Thing
Hora and Beyer have combined to provide a one-two punch for the Vikings on defense. Hora ranks second in the NSIC with 2.1 steals per game while Beyer is fourth at 2.0 steals per outing. The Vikings as a whole are 34^th in the nation with 11.1 steals per game.