SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana women's basketball (0-2 overall) will make its home debut of the 2024-25 season with two non-conference games inside the Elmen Center. Thursday action will feature a 5:30 p.m. bout with Upper Iowa before returning on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Central Missouri.
 
Complete action can be followed on GoAugie.com/Live and the GoAugie app, presented by The Original Pancake House. The app can be downloaded in the App Store or Google Play. 
 
THE PEACOCKS
Upper Iowa was picked to finish fifth in the GLVC preseason poll after going 15-13 in the 2023-24 season. It was the Peacocks highest win total since 2001-02, resulting in three all-conference honorees for the first time in school history. All-GLVC Second Team selection Mia Huberty returns after averaging 15.4 points a game on 44.5% shooting.
 
THE JENNIES
Central Missouri holds a 2-2 record so far this season following a 76-49 defeat of Henderson State and an 83-61 loss to Concordia-St. Paul. After going 21-8 just a season ago, the Jennies were picked fifth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll and sixth in the MIAA Media Poll.
 
Leading the team in scoring are Lauren Frost and Reese Schaaf, who each average 13.3 points a game this season. Schaaf is also averaging 10.0 rebounds a game while UCM is currently shooting .427 from the floor.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Augustana has defeated Upper Iowa in all previous 31 games, with the last matchup taking place in Feb. 2023. Meanwhile, the Vikings are 0-2 against the Jennies, last facing off Nov. 2023.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Augustana opened the season on the road at the DII Central Region Showcase, falling 78-62 to #23 Fort Hays State and 96-61 to host Missouri Western. Oliva Hayenga led with 19 points as Payton Hardy and Paige Grant each had eight rebounds against the Tigers. Hannah Burg led with 14 points versus the Griffons as Grant again grabbed eight rebounds.
 
VIKING VOGEL
Following his Augustana debut on the road, head coach Nate Vogel will make his first Elmen Center appearance at the helm of the Vikings this week with two non-conference matchups on home turf.  
 
HANGIN' WITH HAYENGA
Hayenga leads AU in scoring with 14.0 points through two games off an average of 30.5 minutes on the court. Olivia is currently shooting .417% from beyond the arc and .583% from the field with an average of 5.0 rebounds a game.
 
BALLIN' BURG
The NSIC preseason poll deemed Hannah Burg as the Vikings' Player to Watch in 2024-25. The senior from Colorado Springs, Colo., averaged 16.7 minutes per game with the Lions in the 2023-24 season for 3.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists a game.
 
"Hannah is a dynamic guard who is always under control," said Vogel. "She has been part of successful teams in the past so she knows what it takes to win. Hannah is also an unbelievable teammate who keeps our team together."
 
NEW FACES, NEW PLACES
With five returning letterwinners and 10 newcomers on the Augustana roster, AU will have quite the new look alongside first-year head coach Nate Vogel. Leading the returners is CJ Adamson, who appeared in 25 games and averaged 3.0 points and 1.3 rebounds last season, and Katie Leisen, who averaged 2.2 points and 2.1 rebounds.
 
Fresh faces joining the Vikings include Olivia Hayenga—the two-time NJCAA DIII National Player of the Year—and Uzor Uchidiuno—a graduate transfer from Felician who played 90 games and averaged 5.2 points and 4.7 rebounds in 18.7 minute per game.
 
PRESEASON PLACEMENT
The Augustana women's basketball team was selected to finish 11^th in the 2024-25 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, finishing with 70 points.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Augustana will return to action on Thursday, Nov. 21 in the cross-town battle with Sioux Falls. Tip is set for 7 p.m. at the Stewart Center.