Women's Basketball | 12/31/2020 9:29:00 AM

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The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team opens play for the 2020-21 season on Saturday at Augustana. The Dragons will play two games at Augustana, both taking place at 4 p.m. at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.

This weekend's games will be non-conference; divisional play starts the following week with division champs being crowned at the end of the regular season. 

No fans will be allowed at this weekend's games. The games will be streamed live online, with links being available at www.msumdragons.com

Augustana and MSUM will meet for a 28th time in women's basketball with the Vikings holding a 17-10 series lead. Augustana won the last meeting, 63-60 in overtime on Jan. 18, 2020 in Sioux Falls. The Dragons had a three-game winning streak in the series snapped with the loss.

MSUM finished 17-13 last season but returns four starters from that team, including senior guard Sarah Jacobson and junior guard Natalie Steichen, both of whom started all 30 games a year ago. Jacobson averaged 8.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while Steichen led the team with 110 assists.

All-NSIC second team selection Peyton Boom returns after a breakout season as a sophomore. She averaged 10.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while leading the team with a 51.2 field-goal shooting percentage. 

Senior guard/forward Brooklyn Liegel finished second on the team with 38 three-pointers made. Junior guard Nicole Herbranson started six games last season and averaged 4.5 points per game. Sophomore guard Mariah McKeever appeared in 28 games last year with a career-high of 21 vs. St. Cloud State.  Juniors Nicole Brown and Emma Thuringer also gained experience last year.

Karla Nelson is in her 21st season as the MSUM head coach with a record of 369-208. 

About Augustana

Augustana finished 17-11 a year ago and 12-10 in the NSIC. The Vikings return two starters from that squad, plus the 2018-19 NSIC Freshman of the Year, Vishe' Rabb, who missed most of last season because of injury.

Mitby averaged 10.6 points per game a year ago while Aislinn Duffy returns after averaging 8.8 points per game last season. Rabb appeared in six games before being injured and was averaging 14.2 points per game. 

The Vikings were picked to finish second in the NSIC South Division.

Dave Krauth is entering his 32nd season as the MSUM head coach with a record of 645-280 at the school.

Krauth and MSUM's Karla Nelson are the two longest-tenured coaches in the NSIC.