SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana women's basketball dropped its opening NSIC contest of the 2024-25 season in a 75-59 loss to Sioux Falls on Thursday night.
 
The Vikings drop to 0-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play while the Cougars improve to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in NSIC action.
 
Hannah Burg and Brinlee McRae led the way for the Vikings, each scoring 15 points, respectively. McRae scored her 15 off of 5-of-8 shooting from the behind the arc while Burg went a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
 
Payton Hardy and Burg each pulled down seven rebounds as Uzor Uchidiuno logged two blocks.
 
Augustana outshot its opponent from the field 38.5% compared to 36.2% while also going 47.8% from the 3-point line compared to the Cougars' 29.6%. AU also totaled 32 rebounds, 13 assists, four steals and four blocks.
 
The Cougars struck first to start the game, but Burg and McRae immediately hit back, responding with consecutive 3-pointers to go up 6-3. CJ Adamson and Hardy hit back-to-back jumpers to maintain the three-point lead, but USF rattled off seven straight points to go ahead 14-10 at the 2:27 mark. The Vikings battled to make it a one-point game until a triple from Hayenga regained control with 22 seconds left, giving AU the 20-18 lead at the quarter break.
 
Burg scored first for the Vikings in the second quarter, hitting her third triple of the night with 7:36 remaining in the quarter. That made it a 23-21 advantage and the battle was on. The Cougars and Vikings traded buckets and blows, eventually tying up at 28 apiece off a layup from Isabella Sanneh. Sioux Falls then gained momentum and went on an 8-1 run to end the half, taking a hard-fought 36-31 lead into the locker room.
 
Third quarter action started with a stifling 12-0 run from the Cougars, pushing the lead to 17. Lola Chambers cut the drought with a layup and was quickly followed by a 3-pointer from Kaz Parks. Hardy hit another triple to cut it to 11 and the teams would trade free throws and baskets to maintain the difference, 55-44, at the break.
 
An early 7-1 run helped the home team push on the gas and make it a 17-point game once again. Free throws from Burg and a triple from McRae made it five straight points for the Vikings, but USF responded with nine straight. McRae hit two more 3-pointers as Burg and Sanneh knocked down more free throws, but the game would end 75-59.
 
Up Next
Augustana returns to the Elmen Center to host Hastings College on Wednesday, Nov. 27 with a 2 p.m. tipoff