SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In a split weekend between road and home, Augustana women's basketball (4-16, 2-12 NSIC) will head to No. 22 Southwest Minnesota State for a 7:30 p.m. tip on Thursday before returning to the Elmen Center to play Wayne State at 2 p.m. 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 MUSTANGS
After defeating Bemidji State (77-51) and St. Cloud State (73-57) on the road, Southwest Minnesota State sits 22nd in the most recent WBCA polls with an 18-2 overall record and 12-2 conference showing. The 10-game winning streak has been powered by four Mustangs averaging double figure scoring, led by Bri Stoltzman's 19.1 points/game, 4.1 assists/game and 2.0 steals/game. Audrey Swanson adds in 14.6 points/game and 9.1 rebounds/game
 
THE WILDCATS
Wayne State recently dropped two weekend games to Minnesota Crookston (70-67) and MSU Moorhead (63-53), moving to 9-9 this season and 6-8 in the NSIC. Kylah vanDonkersgoed leads with 12.9 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game while Maya Fitzpatrick follows behind with 12.4 points per game, 2.9 assists per game and 1.8 steals per game.
 
THE VIKINGS
Augustana continues conference play with a weekend both on the road and at home following a 57-43 loss to MSU Moorhead and a 71-67 victory over Minnesota Crookston, improving to 4-16 overall and 2-12 in the NSIC.  
 
Olivia Hayenga leads the scoring with 11.9 points/game alongside 5.0 rebounds/game while Hannah Burg is averaging 11.6 points with 3.6 assists. Payton Hardy is leading in rebounding at 6.2 rebounds per game and Hayenga sits with an average of 1.9 steals per game.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Augustana is 28-18 all-time against Southwest Minnesota State despite falling in the most recent matchup, 77-57, at home on Dec. 19, 2024. Against Wayne State, the Vikings hold the 29-21 series advantage but most recently fell 62-55 in Wayne on Dec. 21, 2024.
 
LAST TIME OUT
On Friday, Augustana dropped a conference road game to MSU Moorhead, 57-43. Olivia Hayenga led with 10 points while Hannah Burg followed with seven and Paige Grant and Kelsey Willems each added in six. Jordan Munson collected five rebounds as Payton Hardy and Brinlee McRae each tallied two steals
 
The following night resulted in the first road win of the season for AU after fending off a late rally from Minnesota Crookston to earn the hard-fought 71-67 victory. Hannah Burg led with 24 points alongside five steals as Olivia Hayenga joined with 20 points. Paige Grant dropped 12 points as Payton Hardy pulled down 10 rebounds and Brinlee McRae dished three assists.
 
DOUBLE DIGIT DUTIES
Hannah Burg and Olivia Hayenga are each currently averaging double figures in scoring, with Hayenga leading at 11.9 points/game and Burg averaging at 11.6 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 take on Winona State on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Winona before hosting Minnesota Duluth at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.