SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana women's basketball team looks to continue its dominating ways with a pair of games against NSIC North Division foes. The Vikings are set to face the first and second place teams in the NSIC this year.
 
The Games
The Vikings face NSIC leader Minnesota Duluth on Friday at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, AU squares up with St. Cloud State, a team that is tied for second place in the overall NSIC standings. Tip-off from St. Cloud, Minnesota, is slated for 3:30 p.m.
 
The Bulldogs
Minnesota Duluth swept last weekend, taking down Winona State 72-59 and Upper Iowa 67-57. The wins pushed UMD to first place in the NSIC by a full game with a 14-2 league record. Overall, UMD is 17-5. Brooke Olson leads the Bulldogs with 15.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. She has started 19 of 22 games and shoots at 51.5 percent from the field. Sarah Grow and Katie Stark rank second and third, respectively, in scoring at 9.6 and 9.2 points per game.
 
The Series: Augustana leads 19-11
 
The Huskies
St. Cloud State enters with a 16-4 overall record and is in second place in the NSIC with a 13-3 league mark. Five Huskies average double-figure scoring while the remainder of the team totals 3.6 points or less. The lead is Tori Wortz at 13.2 points per game, part SCSU's 70 points per game. The leading rebounder is Brehna Evans with 5.0 rebounds per outing while she is also one of the double-figure scorers at 10.9 per game.
 
The Series: Augustana leads 36-29
 
The Vikings
Augustana continues to roll, having won four straight at home and seven of eight total, including victories over Minot State and UMary last weekend. The Vikings prevailed 75-64 over the Beavers and took an 80-73 decision over the Marauders.
 
Senior Abby Hora is the Vikings' active leading scorer at 12 points per outing while freshman Lauren Sees tallies 10 points per game. Jumping into NSIC action, Hannah Mitby totals 10.8 points per game. Hana Beyer leads the Vikings with 5.6 rebounds per game and leads the NSIC with 2.1 steals per game.
 
Augustana continues to not only control the ball but also take it away. The Vikings are 14^th in the nation with a +7.25 turnover margin, stemming from ranking second in the nation in fewest turnovers and 30^th in the country in steals per game.
 
One Last Thing
Augustana has made a habit of making comebacks for their victories in their most-recent stretch. Augustana has won seven of its last eight games but four of the victories have been second-half comebacks. Not quite known as the cardiac kids as they have been third quarter comebacks, Augustana overcame a 14-point deficit to UMary this past weekend and trailed by eight points to Minot State.