Augsburg College - Athletics

2008-09 Augsburg College Women's Basketball Season Preview

General Information
School Name: Augsburg College
Location: 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454
Founded: 1869
Enrollment: 3,984 (includes undergrad, weekend, graduate)
Nickname: Auggies
School Colors: Maroon and Gray (Pantone 209 maroon, Pantone 424 gray)
Arena: Si Melby Hall (Ernie Anderson Court)
Capacity: 2,200
Affiliation: NCAA Division III
Conference: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)
President: Dr. Paul C. Pribbenow
Faculty Athletic Representative: Tracy Bibelnieks
Athletic Director: Jeff Swenson
Assistant Athletic Directors: Paul Grauer, Marilyn Florian (SWA), Kelly Anderson-Diercks
Athletic Phone: 612-330-1249
Athletic Fax: 612-330-1372

History
First year of women's basketball: 1972-73 (program began in 1950; varsity intercollegiate program in 1972-73)
All-time playoff record: none
Years in post-season play: none
Last postseason appearance: none
All-time record (varsity): N/A

Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Jennifer Britz (5th year as head coach, 6th year at Augsburg)
Alma Mater/Year: South Dakota State '01
Record at school (yrs): 19-79 (4)
Career record: same
Head Coach's office phone: 612-330-1239
Coach's e-mail: britz@augsburg.edu

Assistant Coaches
Melissa Lee (Augsburg '05, 4th season)
Charles Anderson (Minnesota State Moorhead '72, 2nd season)

Sports Information
Sports Information Director: Don Stoner
E-Mail: stoner@augsburg.edu
Office phone: 612-330-1677
Cell phone: 612-363-3923

Assistant SID/Assistant Athletic Director (women's basketball contact): Kelly Anderson Diercks
E-mail: diercks@augsburg.edu
Office phone: 612-330-1249

SID Fax: 612-330-1372
Athletic Website: http://www.augsburg.edu/athletics/

2007-08 Game-by Game Results (* denotes MIAC games; Home games in bold)
Fri., Nov. 16, at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, L 85-60
Sat., Nov. 17, vs. Milwaukee School of Engineering, W 78-56
Tues., Nov. 20, vs. University of Wisconsin-River Falls, W 77-62
Wed., Nov. 28, vs. Carleton College *, L 74-63
Sat., Dec. 1, vs. GustavusAdolphus College *, W 57-54
Mon., Dec. 3, vs. College of St. Catherine *, W 74-63
Wed., Dec. 5, at St. Olaf College *, L 45-37
Sat., Jan. 5, at Hamline University *, L 98-70
Mon., Jan. 7, at Macalester College *, L 71-63
Wed., Jan. 9, at University of St. Thomas *, L 66-54
Sat., Jan. 12, vs. College of St. Benedict *, L 72-69 (OT)
Wed., Jan. 16, at St. Mary's University *, W 62-58
Sat., Jan. 19, at Concordia College-Moorhead *, L 73-66
Mon., Jan. 21, vs. Bethel University *, L 99-92 (OT)
Wed., Jan. 23, at Carleton College *, L 84-49
Sat., Jan. 26, at GustavusAdolphus College *, L 86-52
Wed., Jan. 30, at College of St. Catherine *, L 71-59
Sat., Feb. 2, vs. Hamline University *, L 91-72
Mon., Feb. 4, vs. St. Olaf College *, W 75-69
Wed., Feb. 6, vs. Macalester College *, L 64-62
Sat., Feb. 9, at College of St. Benedict *, L 79-59
Wed., Feb. 13, vs. University of St. Thomas *, L 80-53
Sat., Feb. 16, vs. Concordia College-Moorhead *, L 75-67
Wed., Feb. 20, vs. St. Mary's University *, W 64-46
Sat., Feb. 23, at Bethel University *, L 80-60

2008-09 Schedule (* denotes MIAC games; Home games in bold)
Sat., Nov. 15, at University of Chicago (Ill.), 4 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 16, vs. Chapman University (Calif.)/Ithaca College (N.Y.), 11 a.m./3 p.m.
Tue., Nov. 25, vs. Northwestern College-Roseville, 7 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 3, at Hamline University *, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 6, vs. College of St. Catherine * , 3 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 8, vs. University of St. Thomas *, 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 10, vs. GustavusAdolphus College, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 3, vs. St. Olaf College *, 1 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 5, at Concordia College-Moorhead *, 5:45 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 7, at College of St. Benedict *, 7:30p.m.
Sat., Jan. 10, vs. Macalester College *, 1 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 14, vs. Carleton College *, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 17, at Bethel University *, 1 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 19, vs. St. Mary's University *, 5:45 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 21, vs. Hamline University *, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 24, at College of St. Catherine *, 3 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 28, at University of St. Thomas *, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 31, at St. Olaf College *, 1 p.m.
Mon., Feb. 2, at GustavusAdolphus College *, 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 4, vs. Concordia College-Moorhead *, 5:45 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 7, at Macalester College *, 1 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 11, vs. College of St. Benedict *, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 14, vs. Bethel University *, 1 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 18, at Carleton College *, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 21, at St. Mary's University *, 1 p.m.

Player & Team Information
Overall record last year: 7-18
Conference record/finish: 5-17 / 11th
Letterwinners returning/lost: 5/7
Starters returning/lost: 2/3
Roster By Year: 4 seniors, 1 junior, 1 sophomore, 5 first-years. TOTAL: 11.

Returning Key Players
Michelle Richter (G, SR, 5-8, Chaska, Minn.), 25.5 minutes per-game, 6.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 1.5 spg in 2007-08; career stats: 75 games, 7.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.1 apg, 112 steals and 9 blocked shots.
Christa Suedbeck (C, SR, 6-2, Hugo, Minn./White Bear Lake HS), All-MIAC honorable-mention in 2007-08, 12.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.7 bpg; second in MIAC in rebounding and third in blocked shots; fourth all-time at Augsburg in blocked shots; transferred from Minot State (N.D.) in 2007-08, averaged 2.4 ppg and 2.3 rpg in 28 games as reserve post player in 2006-07; member of team that qualified for NAIA national tournament in 2005-06; voted team's Most Improved Player in 2005-06 and 2006-07.
Shannon Renne (G, SO, 5-8, Nicollet, Minn.), All-MIAC First-Year Team in 2007-08, played in all 25 games, averaged 10.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg; 3-time all-conference and 2-time all-state honorable-mention (AP); 1,000-point scorer in high school.
Jacci Mattern (F/C, SR, 5-9, Lakeville, Minn.), Played in five games in 2007-08 before suffering a season-ending knee injury; averaged 3.7 ppg and 3.1 rpg in 2006-07; career stats: 51 games, 3.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 31 steals and 9 blocked shots; member of high school teams that finished second (2003-04) and fourth (2004-05) in Minnesota state tournament, Academic All-State recipient in 2005.

Key Newcomers
Serenae Levine (G, FY, 5-6, Eden Prairie, Minn.), three-sport athlete for Eden Prairie HS, AAU teams Lakers and Thunder.
Lexi Thompson (G, FY, 5-6, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS), three-sport athlete for St. Michael-Albertville HS, AAU state champions in 2007.
Maggie DeGroot (F, SR, 5-9, Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West HS), senior captain on the Augsburg women's soccer team, Augsburg record-holder in every career goalkeeping statistical category.

Key Losses
Kristina Lurken (G, 5-8), All-MIAC 2007-08, All-MIAC honorable-mention in 2006-07; started all 25 games, 11.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 4.9 apg in 2007-08; eighth all-time in career points (966) and first in career assists (412); career stats: 98 games, 9.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.2 apg, 139 steals, 13 blocked shots; honorable mention all-state in 2004; two-time all-conference and all-area selections; academic-all state in senior season; also a member of Augsburg's volleyball team.
Katie LaGrave (G/F, 6-0) All-MIAC honorable-mention 2007-08 and 2005-06; started all 25 games, averaged 9.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg in 2007-08, sixth all-time in career points (978), first in career three-pointers made (149) and fourth in career free-throw percentage (.753); career stats: 94 games, 10.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.6 apg, 93 steals, 34 blocked shots; first-team All-Far East in 2003 and 2004, 3-point shooting champion in Far East conference, team won Far East title in 2003 (competition against high schools for Americans in Far East); Stars and Stripes Pacific High School Girls' Athlete of the Year in 2003-04.

Season Outlook and Notes:

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg College women's basketball team is excited for the 2008-09 season. Last year, the Auggies finished 7-18 overall, 5-17 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play, and moved up a spot in the conference standings from the previous season. Augsburg is looking to continue this upward move and break into the upper half of the very competitive MIAC.

Head coach Jennifer Britz returns five letterwinners and two starters from a season ago. Last season, Augsburg finished second in the MIAC is assists per game (15.04), fourth in assist/turnover ratio (0.81), second in defensive rebounding (27.36 rpg) and third in blocked shots per game (3.56). The Auggie defense is going to be one of their keys to success this season.

"We have a pesky and scrappy defense that is hard working, and that will be one of our major strengths this season," Britz said.

Another strength for the Auggies this season is going to be their post play. Augsburg will be led by All-MIAC honorable-mention center Christa Suedbeck (SR, Hugo, Minn./White Bear Lake HS). After playing two seasons at Minot State (N.D.), Suedbeck came in last season and made an immediate impact for the Auggies. Last year, Suedbeck led the Auggies in scoring (12.5 ppg), rebounding (9.4 apg), field goal percentage (.475) and blocked shots (62). She was ranked second in the MIAC in rebounding, third in blocked shots, fourth in offensive rebounds (3.13) and second in defensive rebounds (6.26) and she will be the go-to player for the Auggies down low this season.

Guard Shannon Renne (SO, Nicollet, Minn.) was another player who made an immediate impact for the Auggies last season. Renne was named to the All-MIAC First-Year Team, as she averaged 10.5 points-per-game and 3.2 rebounds-per-game. She led the Auggies in free-throw percentage (.792) and three-point field-goal attempts (132) and was second in three-point field goals made (41). Renne will again be looked to this season for her offensive presence and good court sense.

Providing the leadership for Augsburg this season will be guard Michelle Richter (SR, Chaska, Minn.) and forward Jacci Mattern (SR, Lakeville, Minn.). "Richter and Mattern are the kind of players that do all the little things right. They will be looked to for their leadership and work ethic," Britz said.

Richter averaged 25.5 minutes per-game last season, while contributing 6.0 points-per-game and 4.4 rebounds-per-game. Richter also led the Auggies last season in steals (37) and was second in field-goal percentage (.420). Mattern played in five games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury. After a year of rehabilitation, Mattern is more than ready to pick-up where she left off in 2006-07, scoring 3.7 points-per-game and 3.1 rebounds-per-game.

Also returning for the Auggies this season is Ashley Thoeny (JR, Golden Valley, Minn./Hopkins HS). Thoeny saw action in 19 games last season averaging 7.9 minutes-per-game while scoring 33 points, pulling down 19 rebounds and collecting 5 steals.

Leading a large group of newcomers will be Serenae Levine (FY, Eden Prairie, Minn.), who will be expected to make an immediate impact at the guard position. Levine was a three-sport athlete for Eden Prairie HS and also played AAU basketball. Maggie DeGroot (SR, Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West HS) and Samantha Thompson (FY, White Bear Lake, Minn.), both members of the Augsburg women's soccer team, will be making their basketball debuts this season. DeGroot was a captain on the Augsburg women's soccer team and is the career leader in every single goalkeeping statistical category. Thompson played in 11 games this season, scoring one goal. Both DeGroot and Thompson bring playoff experience and leadership to the Auggies this season.

Also joining the Auggie roster will be Lexi Thompson (FY, St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS), Sigrid Casey (FY, Chisholm, Minn.) and Ashley Erickson (FY, Bemidji, Minn.). Thompson has Minnesota state tournament experience in both basketball and cross country and will look to make an impact for the Auggies at the forward position. Both Casey and Erickson will be looking to contribute at the guard position. Casey, a transfer from the University of Minnesota, was an all-conference and honorable-mention all-state player at Chisholm and Erickson was a four year letterwinner at Bemidji.

The Auggies will need to replace Kristina Lurken and Katie LaGrave, who both graduated last season and were among the top-eight scorers in Augsburg women's basketball history.

"Although we lost some key players from last season, the new team works hard and they are determined to improve," said Britz. "Our new players bring in a positive mentality and perspective and there is a really good cohesiveness with this team. They are very coachable and are looking forward to achieving their goals for this season."

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Augsburg College, a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III.

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