SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Before returning to home court, the Augustana women's basketball team (4-18, 2-14 NSIC) will take on the Winona State Warriors in mid-week action with a 7:30 p.m. tip on Wednesday night in Winona, Minn.  
 
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 WARRIORS
Winona State holds a 9-13 overall record with a 5-11 conference showing after defeating Minnesota Duluth, 57-53, and losing to No. 14 Minnesota State, 105-49, last week. Olivia Gamoke leads with 12.8 points per game as Hailey Markworth is adding in 11.0 points per game. Vivica Bretton is pulling down 5.5 rebounds per game and Mattie Schimenz is dishing 2.5 assists per game.
 
THE VIKINGS
Following losses to No. 22 Southwest Minnesota State, 88-65, and Wayne State, 72-68, Augustana is 4-18 on the season and 2-14 in the NSIC.
 
Hannah Burg leads the scoring with 11.6 points/game alongside 3.3 assists/game while Olivia Hayenga is averaging 11.5 points with 5.0 rebounds/game. Payton Hardy is leading in rebounding at 5.9 rebounds per game and Hayenga sits with an average of 1.8 steals per game.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Augustana leads the all-time series 34-14 against Winona State, but most recently fell 65-45 to the Warriors on Dec. 6, 2024 inside the Sanford Pentagon.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Vikings fell to No. 22 Southwest Minnesota State last Thursday, 88-65. Hannah Burg led with 12 points as Kelsey Willems tied her career high of 11 points—including three 3-pointers—and Isabella Sanneh scored 10. Burg, Lola Chambers and Olivia Hayenga all tallied five rebounds apiece and Willems added in six steals as she and Hayenga each dished four assists.
 
Augustana then returned home and fought off a sizzling first half from Wayne State, but the comeback fell short, dropping 72-68 on Saturday. Four Vikings finished in double figures, led by Hannah Burg's 13 points and six steals. Payton Hardy dropped in 12 points, Olivia Hayenga scored 11 to go with her seven rebounds and Brinlee McRae added in 10 points and seven rebounds.
 
DOUBLE DIGIT DUTIES
Hannah Burg and Olivia Hayenga are each currently averaging double figures in scoring, with Burg leading at 11.6 points/game and Hayenga 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 return home to face Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 5:30 p.m. inside the Elmen Center.