The Augustana women’s basketball team (13-6, 6-4) is nearing the end of their historic 2016-17 season.
The Vikings are looking to continue to improve in their final six games of the season. Head coach Mark Beinborn described the team “moving forward” this season.
“We knew from day one that we had an uphill road,” Beinborn said. “I think that each year we wanted to take another step and keeping moving forward and progressing. It’s a journey.”
The team is battling for a top spot for the conference tournament at the end of the season. However, the Vikings are taking one game at a time and focusing on their skills for the next game.
“We need to bring our top game if want to continue to win like we were before,” Kallenberger said.
They started off the season 10-0, which was exciting for coach Mark Beinborn and the whole team.
“I’m glad we started that way, but I think that going through some adversity and being able to grow from some experiences,” Beinborn said. “It’s easier to learn from losses than wins.”
One of the team’s defining moments so far was the game that brought them to become 10-0: the game versus the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, a ranked and undefeated team at the time. Wisconsin-Whitewater has always been a tough opponent but the Vikings responded to the battle and won.
Senior Kaycee Kallenberger thought this game was the team’s highlight of the season so far.
“I thought that was a really awesome game for us to just understand that we are a really good team and we are capable of beating even better teams,” Kallenberger said.
The Vikings have been working on techniques throughout the season. Beinborn thinks the team has improved their defense significantly and that there are always things to improve on game after game.
The Vikings will face Millikin University at Roy J. Carver Center at 7 p.m. this Saturday.