SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In the lone game scheduled for Augustana women's basketball this weekend, the Vikings will host the Beavers of Minot State on Saturday with a 5:30 p.m. tip scheduled inside the Elmen Center.  
 
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 BEAVERS
Minot State sits with a 4-13 overall record this season and has gone 3-7 in NSIC play. The Beavers' most recent games ended in a loss to Sioux Falls State (96-73) and a loss to #25 Southwest Minnesota State (84-57), both on the road.
 
Three players are averaging in double figures for scoring with Maya Aguilar (10.9 points/game), Emma Mogen (10.6 points/game) and Lara Dobbins (10.1 points/game). Lorelei McIver collects 5.0 rebounds/game with 1.1 blocks/game while Mogen averages 1.2 steals and 2.5 assists.
 
THE VIKINGS
Augustana continues its homestand following a victory over UMary (61-52) and a loss to Northern State (94-48) to move to 3-14 overall this season and 1-10 in conference play.
 
Olivia Hayenga leads the scoring with 11.6 points/game alongside 5.3 rebounds/game while Hannah Burg is averaging 11.5 points with 3.6 assists. Payton Hardy is leading in rebounding at 6.3 rebounds per game and Hayenga sits with an average of 1.9 steals per game.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Augustana holds the 13-2 all-time advantage against Minot State, but most recently fell 66-60 to the Beavers on Jan. 25, 2024 at home.  
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Viking women's basketball team defeated UMary 61-52 on Friday to secure its first conference win of the season on home turf. Three Vikings finished in double figures with Hannah Burg scoring 20 points followed by Brinlee McRae at 13 and Payton Hardy at 10.
 
Olivia Hayenga led in three statistical categories with her 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals as Isabella Sanneh collected two blocks.  
 
Last Saturday, AU fell 94-48 to Northern State. Brinlee McRae led with nine points as Olivia Hayenga added eight. Isabella Sanneh collected a team-high four rebounds and two blocks while Payton Hardy, Hayenga and McRae each tallied two steals apiece.
 
DOUBLE DIGIT DUTIES
Hannah Burg and Olivia Hayenga are each currently averaging double figures in scoring, with Hayenga leading at 11.6 points/game and Burg averaging at 11.5 points/game.
 
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, on Nov. 27. 
 
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 the with 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
Four 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.
 
Also making their comeback are sophomore Payton Hardy, sophomore Jordan Munson and redshirt junior Kelsey Willems.
 
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 hit the road for Minnesota next weekend with games against MSU Moorhead on Friday and Minnesota Crookston on Saturday.