SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana women's basketball team opens postseason action Sunday in the Sanford Pentagon against Northern State. The Vikings will face the Wolves with an 11 a.m. tipoff to open the NSIC Tournament with the winner advancing to the semifinals Monday. For a full bracket, click here.
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Scouting the Wolves
The Wolves of Northern State enter the quarterfinals following a 63-49 victory over Upper Iowa in the opening round of the NSIC tournament. NSU is 18-11 overall while wrapping up NSIC action 11-10. Augustana last faced Northern State on Jan. 6 resulting in a 62-60 loss for the Vikings. Despite a 49-41 advantage for the Vikings at the end of the third period, a 21-11 fourth quarter in the favor of the Wolves delivered AU one of its four losses this season.
Northern State is led in scoring by Kailee Oliverson who averages 15.5 points per game. Oliverson also leads the Wolves in rebounds per game with 7.6. Controlling the ball for Northern State is Rianna Fillipi who leads the Wolf pack in both steals and assists, averaging 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
The Vikings
Augustana is the No. 2 seed from the NSIC South Division holding a 24-4 overall record while finishing the NSIC season at 17-4.
The NSIC South Division Player of the Year, Aislinn Duffy, continues to lead the Vikings in scoring, rebounds, and assists. Duffy tallied her 23rd career double-double this past weekend with one apiece from each contest. She recorded her 10th of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds against SMSU while collecting her 11th double-double this season with 19 points and 10 rebounds against USF. Duffy ties for first place in the NSIC in double-doubles with 11 while ranking 27th nationally.
Recently awarded NSIC South Division Player of the Week and All-NSIC second team honoree, Michaela Jewett, earned her second weekly honor of her career and this season averaging a double-double across SMSU and USF. Jewett recorded her second career double-double with 20 points and a career-high 13 rebounds against USF. Jewett leads the squad in three point percentage attempts with 183. She ranks second in the NSIC and 33rd in Division II in that category.
Kenzie Rensch continues to wreck havoc on defense by collecting 85 steals this season to average 3.04 a game. She leads the NSIC in total steals ranking third in the nation. Rensch ranks second in the NSIC in steals per game while holding a ninth place spot across Division II.
One Last Thing
Augustana recorded an NSIC best of three student-athletes earning All-NSIC accolades. Duffy was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Year while garnering first team honors. Lauren Sees joins Duffy with her first career first team honor, and Jewett earns her first All-NSIC accolade with a second-team honor.
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