ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Augustana women's basketball dropped its first game of the season to No. 23 Fort Hays State, 78-62, at the DII Central Region Showcase. In head coach Nate Vogel's first game with the Vikings, Olivia Hayenga dropped 19 points as she went 7-of-17 from the field, including four 3-point field goals.
 
Payton Hardy followed suit with 12 points and eight rebounds as Paige Grant added eight rebounds and Uzor Uchidiuno collected three blocks.
 
The Vikings totaled 35 rebounds and held the advantage over their opponent with 15 steals and seven blocks.
 
Fort Hays State took control early and quickly established an 11-2 lead. Pressure from the Vikings caused issues for the Tigers as turnovers began to pile up. Buckets from Isabella Sanneh and Hardy closed in until a free throw and a triple from Hayenga tightened the game at 15-11 just before the quarter break.
 
The Tigers hit back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers to open up the second quarter and push the lead to double digits, going up 24-13. Combined with a jumper from Burg and another Hayenga triple, Hardy hit a layup to close at 24-20 with 6:56 left in the half. But two free throws from FHSU would make it 30-24 heading into the locker room.
 
After the Vikings scored the first layup of the second half, the Tigers pushed on the gas and responded with an 8-0 run to push the lead to 12. Every time Augustana made a bucket, Fort Hays State hit right back. The lead grew to 19 with just over a minute left in the quarter, but a layup from Grant made it 61-44 to close the third.
 
Momentum from the opponent continued into the fourth quarter even as Augustana fought to keep the score within reach. A triple from Grant made it an 11-point game, but the Tigers pushed it back to 19. Despite a 3-pointer from Jordan Munson with two seconds left, the game would end 78-62 in favor of the nationally-rated Tigers.
 
Looking Ahead
Augustana will return to action tomorrow for game two at the showcase with a 7 p.m. contest against the host Missouri Western Griffons.