SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana women's basketball (2-11 overall, 0-7 NSIC) will hit the road to kick off 2025, resuming conference action with a 5:30 p.m. game against St. Cloud State on Friday and a 3:30 p.m. bout against Bemidji 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 HUSKIES
After falling to UMary (73-55) and Bemidji State (78-64) last week, St. Cloud State holds a 6-5 overall record while going 3-3 in NSIC play. Jada Eggebrecht is dominating on the offensive, averaging 15.1 points/game while Abigail O'Reilly joins her in double figures at 10.4 points/game. Ashley Sawicki cleans the glass at 8.3 rebounds per game with 1.7 blocks per game as Alyssa Stamer adds in 4.2 assists per game.
 
THE BEAVERS
Bemidji State is currently 3-7 on the year with a 1-5 record in conference play after recently coming off a 78-74 victory over St. Cloud State and a 62-50 loss to UMary. Scoring is led by Rachel Koenig and Tieryn Plasch as they average 10.6 and 10.2 points/game, respectively. Aubrey Heyers sits with an average of 4.2 rebounds a game while Erin Barrette is adding in 2.6 assists a game and Ella Giorgi averages 1.1 blocks a game.
 
THE VIKINGS
Augustana is currently looking for its first conference win of the season following a 0-7 start to the NSIC slate, mostly recently dropping to Southwest Minnesota State and Wayne State.
 
Olivia Hayenga leads the scoring with 12.2 points/game alongside 4.7 rebounds/game while Hannah Burg is averaging 11.2 points with 4.0 assists. Payton Hardy is leading in rebounding at 6.2 rebounds per game and Brinlee McRae sits with an average of 1.9 steals per game.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Vikings hold the 37-32 all-time record over St. Cloud State, most recently falling 76-58 on the road on Jan. 20 last year. Against Bemidji State, the series sits at 22-3 advantage, with AU claiming the last four matchups, including a 70-60 victory last year on the road on Jan. 19.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Augustana was paced by four Vikings in double figures en route to collecting its second win of the season, defeating Mount Marty in New Year's Eve action on Tuesday night, 76-60.
 
Olivia Hayenga led with a career-high 25 points—off 8-of-14 shooting, including 6-of-8 from behind the arc—and career-high nine rebounds. Payton Hardy finished with 15 points alongside a 7-of-8 showing at the free throw line.
 
Hannah Burg and Brinlee McRae added in 12 points each while Burg dished four assists and McRae tied with Hayenga to lead with four steals apiece. Hardy, Hayenga and Burg also each added in a block.
 
DOUBLE DIGIT DUTIES
Hannah Burg and Olivia Hayenga are each currently averaging double figures in scoring, with Hayenga leading at 12.2 points/game and Burg averaging at 11.1 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
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 11^th in the 2024-25 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, finishing with 70 points.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Augustana will return home for a conference weekend at the Elmen Center, facing UMary at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Northern State at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.