SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana women's basketball (3-15, 1-11 NSIC) will continue conference play by hitting the road this weekend to face MSU Moorhead on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Minnesota Crookston on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
 
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 DRAGONS
Minnesota State University Moorhead holds a season record of 7-11 overall and 5-7 in conference play following a 94-66 loss to #10 Minnesota State Mankato and a 69-47 victory over Winona State. Three athletes currently average double digits in scoring, led by Natalie Jens' 12.5 points/game and 3.2 assists/game. Terryn Johnson boasts 10.2 points/game and 8.2 rebounds/game while Ashton Safranski sits with 2.3 steals/game.
 
THE GOLDEN EAGLES
After dropping back-to-back games this weekend to #22 Concordia-St. Paul (81-69) and Minnesota Duluth (66-64), Minnesota Crookston is 6-12 so far this season and 4-8 in the NSIC. Emma Miller is dominantly leading her team in scoring at 21.4 points per game alongside a team-high 1.4 steals per game and 2.8 assists per game. Riley Jenkins averages 11.1 points per game as Nicole Hernandez is cleaning the glass at 8.1 rebounds per game.
 
THE VIKINGS
Augustana hits the road looking for a bounce back following a 69-55 loss to Minot State on Saturday, moving the team to 3-15 overall and 1-11 in conference play.
 
Olivia Hayenga leads the scoring with 11.6 points/game alongside 5.3 rebounds/game while Hannah Burg is averaging 11.1 points with 3.7 assists. Payton Hardy is leading in rebounding at 6.2 rebounds per game and Hayenga sits with an average of 2.0 steals per game.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Despite a 73-67 loss on Feb. 17, 2024 in the most recent matchup, the Vikings hold the 20-13 series advantage over the Dragons. Against the Golden Eagles, AU is 21-3 all-time, with the last matchup ending in a 103-71 victory.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Despite two players in double figures and a career-high from Kelsey Willems, Augustana fell 69-55 on Saturday evening to Minot State.
 
Olivia Hayenga and Willems added in 11 points each to lead the Vikings in scoring while Isabella Sanneh and Brinlee McRae chipped in at nine apiece. Hannah Burg tallied in six assists and six rebounds as Willems also led with five steals and Sanneh logged a block.
 
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 11.1 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
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 face Southwest Minnesota State at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday in Marshall, Minn., before returning home to take on Wayne State at 2 p.m. on Saturday.