SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana women's basketball will kick off the season—the first under head coach Nate Vogel—at the 2^nd Annual Central Region WBB Showcase in St. Joseph, Missouri with a 12:30 p.m. tip against #23 Fort Hays State on Friday and a 7:30 p.m. battle with host Missouri Western on Saturday.
 
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 live stream is provided through the MIAA Network and has a per-game fee.
 
The Tigers
Fort Hays State ranks #23 in the WBCA DII Preseason Coaches' Poll and are #22 in the D2CSC National Media Poll to start the season. The Tigers were picked to top the MIAA in the conference preseason poll after going 25-8 and advancing to the Central Region semifinals last season. WBCA All -America honorable mention Katie Wagner DeGarmo returns for her fifth year with 1,732 career points and 965 career rebounds.
 
The Griffons
First-year head coach Ashton Feldhaus takes over a squad that won a MIAA regular season title for the sixth time in program history after going 25-8 and falling in the Central Region Tournament to the eventual-national champions from Minnesota State. Tiani Ellison is the team's lead returning scorer and rebounder after averaging 8.7 points and 3.9 rebounds a game last season.
 
The Vikings
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 returns 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.
 
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."
 
Looking Ahead
Augustana will kick off its home slate next week with a 5:30 p.m. game against Upper Iowa on Thursday, Nov. 14 and a 2 p.m. tip on Saturday, Nov. 16 versus Central Missouri.