SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana women's basketball (1-5 overall, 0-1 NSIC) will host a weekend of NSIC matchups at the Sanford Pentagon with a Friday game against Winona State at 5:30 p.m. and a 3:30 p.m. tilt against #16 Minnesota State 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 WARRIORS
Winona State currently holds a 4-3 overall record with a 0-1 showing in conference play following a recent 71-66 loss to Michigan Tech. Olivia Gamoke leads the way in scoring with an average of 14.9 points/game as Hailey Markworth and Mattie Schimenz follow closely behind at 13.4 and 11.0 points/game, respectively. Vivica Bretton is currently averaging 5.9 rebounds/game while dishing out 2.4 assists/game. 

THE MAVERICKS
After a weekend loss to Colorado School of Mines and a defeat of Regis, Minnesota State sits with a 5-2 record overall with a 1-0 NSIC record. The Mavericks are also making noise in the national polls, coming in at #16 in the Dec. 3 WBCA poll. Natalie Bremer dominantly leads the offensive with 23.5 points per game alongside 5.8 rebounds a game while Destinee Bursch averages 18.4 points/game and Ava Stier is pulling down 6.3 rebounds/game. 

THE VIKINGS 
Augustana is looking for its first conference victory this weekend after securing its first win of the season in an 87-77 defeat of Hastings College last Wednesday afternoon. 

AU is currently led by Hannah Burg's 15.0 points per game while also leading the team with 4.7 assists per game. Olivia Hayenga is also in double figures with her average of 11.2 points/game as Payton Hardy is cleaning the glass at 7.0 rebounds/game. 

SERIES HISTORY
Augustana leads 34-13 all-time historically against Winona State, but the most recent matchup on Feb. 9, 2024, ended in a 64-52 loss to the Warriors on the road. Despite a 97-75 loss to the Mavericks on Feb. 10, 2024, the Vikings hold the 51-34 lead all-time. 

LAST TIME OUT
Augustana women's basketball secured its first win of the 2024-25 season in an 87-77 defeat of Hastings College, making the first victory of the Nate Vogel era. Hannah Burg led the charge with her 24 points, eight rebounds and six assists as Olivia Hayenga joined in with 21 points, three rebounds and three steals and Brinlee McRae added in 18 points, five steals and three rebounds. 

Burg also went a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and McRae also went 3-of-4 from 3-point land. 

The Vikings shot 41.7% from the floor, 42.3% from beyond the arc on 11-of-26 shooting and 80% from the free throw line. Augustana also forced 28 turnovers for Hastings and held the advantage in steals 16-7.

VICTORY FORMATION
Nate Vogel has secured his first victory as head coach of the Augustana women's basketball team, leading the Vikings over the Broncos of Hastings College, 87-77, last week. 

DOUBLE DIGIT DUTIES
Hannah Burg and Olivia Hayenga are currently averaging double figures in scoring, with Burg leading at 15.0 points/game and Hayenga averaging at 11.2 points/game. 

EVERYONE EATS
All active members of the 2024-25 squad have appeared in at least one game, seen time on the court and made a statistical impact through four games this season

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."

VOGEL'S A VIKING
Augustana women's basketball head coach Nate Vogel steps into his first year at the helm of the Vikings program after spending five seasons as the head coach at Texas A&M International. In the 2023-24 season, the Dustdevils collected a program-best record of 25-7 and garnered their first ever national ranking, reaching No. 17 in the country.

NEW FACES, NEW PLACES
With 10 newcomers joining in with the five returning letterwinners on the Augustana roster, AU will have quite the new look alongside first-year head coach Nate Vogel. 

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. 

Two freshmen will also make their debut with the addition of Izzy Klumper and Isabella Sanneh. 

RUNNING IT BACK
Five letterwinners return to the Vikings lineup, led by junior CJ Adamson, who appeared in 25 games and averaged 3.0 points and 1.3 rebounds last season, and junior Katie Leisen, who averaged 2.2 points and 2.1 rebounds.

Also making their comeback are redshirt sophomore Katelyn Diegnau, sophomore Payton Hardy, sophomore Jordan Munson and redshirt junior Kelsey Willems. 

PRESEASON PLACEMENT
The Augustana women's basketball team was selected to finish 11th in the 2024-25 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, finishing with 70 points. 

LOOKING AHEAD
Augustana will face its first two conference road contests of the season with games against Minnesota Duluth on Friday and Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday. Tip offs are set for 5:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively.