SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana women's basketball (2-13 overall, 0-9 NSIC) will host two home conference games this week, facing the University of Mary at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Northern State at 3:30 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 MARAUDERS
UMary is 8-4 so far this season and 5-3 in the NSIC after falling 69-63 to Minnesota State and beating Winona State 69-48 last weekend. Bergan Kinnebrew is averaging 14.7 points per game while Moriku Hakim pulls down 5.8 rebounds per game. Eden Fridley has dished 2.7 assists per game with 1.4 steals per game while Addison Rozell collects an average of 1.6 blocks per game.
 
THE WOLVES
Following defeats of Minnesota Duluth (73-43) and #16 Concordia-St. Paul (66-60) last weekend, Northern State holds a 9-5 overall record with a 6-2 conference showing. Madelyn Bragg is leading the offensive charge with an average of 14.3 points/game as Rianna Fillipi and Michaela Jewett join her in double figures at 10.8 and 10.0 points/game, respectively. Jewett also adds in 7.9 rebounds/game while Fillipi dishes 5.2 assists/game with 1.4 steals/game.
 
THE VIKINGS
Augustana is currently looking for its first conference win of the season following a 0-9 start to the NSIC slate, mostly recently dropping to St. Cloud State and Bemidji State
 
Olivia Hayenga leads the scoring with 12.1 points/game alongside 5.1 rebounds/game while Hannah Burg is averaging 11.5 points with 3.9 assists. Payton Hardy is leading in rebounding at 6.5 rebounds per game and Hayenga sits with an average of 1.9 steals per game.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Augustana holds the 18-5 all-time advantage against the University of Mary, but most recently fell 72-54 at home on Feb. 24, 2024. Against the Wolves, AU is up 31-21 historically despite suffering a close 60-57 loss at home on Feb. 23, 2024.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Viking women's basketball team fell to St. Cloud State (81-70) and Bemidji State (63-50) over the weekend in conference road contests.
 
Three Vikings finished in double figures against the Huskies, with Olivia Hayenga leading the charge with a 17 point-11 rebound double-double. Hannah Burg added in 16 points and Brinlee McRae added 11 while Payton Hardy pulled down eight rebounds. Burg dished six assists and Hayenga collected four steals.
 
Against the Beavers, Hannah Burg scored 11 points while Payton Hardy pulled down eight rebounds to lead AU. Three Vikings collected two steals apiece and CJ Adamson tallied three assists.
 
DOUBLE DIGIT DUTIES
Hannah Burg and Olivia Hayenga are each currently averaging double figures in scoring, with Hayenga leading at 12.1 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
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
With one game on the schedule next week, Augustana will host Minot State on Saturday afternoon with a 5:30 p.m. tip scheduled.