After a huge win in their first game of the 2025-2026 season over Monmouth College, the Augustana women’s basketball team had two weeks to prepare for their next challenge: Hosting the Hyatt Place Tournament, where they faced a strong 3-2 St. Catherine team in their home opener.
With nearly two weeks between games, the Vikings focused on staying sharp in practice and not letting the early blowout inflate their confidence. Heading into the tournament, the goal was to stay grounded, stay competitive and carry their momentum into a tougher matchup.
Even with the dominant result in their opener, the Vikings didn’t let the final score fool them. Head Coach Mark Beinborn made it clear that the win was only a starting point, not a sign that everything was clicking perfectly. In the days that followed, he said the team spent time breaking down film, looking closely at where they succeeded and where the details still needed work.
“We played really well, but there are still a lot of things we watched film the other night and just watched where we needed to be better,” Beinborn said. “It’s just finding those little details and areas we can get better at, because it doesn’t matter how big the win or the loss is, there’s always some teaching points you can find.”
The long break between games didn’t make preparation any easier for the Vikings. With nearly two weeks separating the opener from the Hyatt Place Tournament, the Vikings had to find ways to stay locked in without the usual game-to-game rhythm. Practices became even more important, according to sophomore Audrey Erickson, especially as the team dealt with a few minor injuries and the natural drop in energy that can come with a long break.
“It was hard, because it’s easy when you get in this rhythm of our game,” Erickson said. “In those two weeks, we had had a few injuries, and we had a couple of days where I think the energy wasn’t there in practice, and it’s just addressing it as a team. That reminder is that we can’t come and take any days off. We can’t be a winning team and just turn it on in moments; it has to be every time you step on that floor.”
Early-season tournaments give teams a chance to learn a lot about themselves in a short amount of time. For Augustana, playing multiple games in one weekend isn’t just about results; it’s also about seeing how the group handles quick turnarounds and new challenges. With a roster that already plays hard and shares the ball well, the team views this stretch as a key moment for building rhythm and momentum.
These games also give players the freedom to grow through experience. Mistakes are expected, especially this early, but the focus is on how the team responds and what they take from each situation. For the Vikings, junior Paige Melton said she sees the goal as continuing to stack little improvements while enjoying playing together.
“I want us to continue to build off of momentum and find a rhythm,” Melton said. “This group really plays well together. We’re unselfish, play hard, and I just enjoy that. Get better every game, and go out and learn. I just want us to continue to take steps and improve with that every day.”
The Vikings ended the Hyatt Place Tournament 1-1, falling to St. Catherine by nine, but beating Greenville University 66-45. The Vikings now look ahead to this weekend, when they will face Webster University on Nov. 29, on the road in St. Louis, Missouri.
