BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- The Augustana women's basketball team has been picked second in the NSIC Preseason South Division Coaches' Poll announced Wednesday. The Vikings tallied 35 points in the poll while senior Hannah Mitby was picked as Augustana's Preseason Player to Watch. 

Dave Krauth enters his 32nd season at the helm of the Augustana Women's Basketball program in 2021. Augustana returns two starters from last season in Aislinn Duffy and Hannah Mitby. Last year, two freshmen were named to the All-Freshmen Team in Duffy and Lauren Sees. Duffy started 23 games averaging 8.8 points and five rebounds per game while Sees started in 11 games averaging 8.1 points in conference play on 44-percent shooting. 

The Vikings also return the 2018-19 NSIC Freshman of the Year in Vishe' Rabb. After starting the first six games of the 2019-20 season, Rabb suffered a season-ending injury. Up to that point, she was averaging 14.2 points per contest on 40-percent shooting from the field. 

Hannah Mitby | Burnsville, Minnesota | Senior | Guard/Forward

Mitby had a breakout junior season in 2019-20 as she averaged 10.6 points per contest on 43-percent shooting while securing 3.5 rebounds per outing. Those averages increased to 11.3 points per contest and 3.6 rebounds per game over the 22-game NSIC slate. She ranked second in the NSIC last season with 2.0 steals per game in league action. The native of Burnsville, Minnesota, was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week on Jan. 20 after she averaged 20 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting nearly 50-percent from the floor while leading AU to a pair of victories. 

The Vikings host MSU Moorhead on Jan. 2 & 3 inside the Elmen Center to open the season in nonconference action. The NSIC has designated only South Division opponents as conference opponents for Augustana in 2021. 
 

2020-21 NSIC South Division Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll

    1. Minnesota State (3)                 43

    2. Augustana (2)                          35

        Winona State (2)                     35

    4. Sioux Falls (1)                         27

    5. Southwest Minnesota State    26

        Wayne State                           26

    7. Concordia-St. Paul                 25

    8. Upper Iowa                             7
 

2020-21 NSIC North Division Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll

    1. Minnesota Duluth (7)       49

    2. St. Cloud State                41

    3. MSU Moorhead (1)         37

    4. University of Mary           32

    5. Northern State                23

    6. Bemidji State                  22

    7. Minot State                     11

    8. Minnesota Crookston      9

--GoAugie.com--