2012 Auggie Awards - Women's Most Improved Team of the Year Finalists

BASKETBALL (5-20 overall, 4-18 MIAC—12th/12 in 2010-11 … 14-11 overall, 11-11 MIAC—7th/12 in 2011-12) -- Augsburg had one of its most successful seasons in school history in 2011-12. With 14 wins, Augsburg matched its 1983-84 campaign (14-11) for the most victories in a single season in the school's varsity women's basketball history (since 1972-73). The 11 MIAC wins also matched the 1983-84 (11-9) and 1984-85 (11-9) seasons for the most conference wins in a single season in Augsburg history. Under first-year head coach Bill McKee, the Auggies' 14 wins this season also equaled the number of Auggie victories in the prior three seasons combined (14-61). The 2011-12 campaign marked the first double-digit win season for Augsburg since 2000-01 (11-13), the seventh double-digit win campaign in the varsity era (since 1972-73), and its first .500-or-above season since 1984-85 (13-11). Senior guard Serenae Levine was named to the All-MIAC squad, while post player Brittany Zins was named All-MIAC Honorable Mention. The Auggies had several milestone wins this season – a 61-50 win at St. Benedict that snapped a 50-game losing streak to the Blazers, and two wins over Concordia-Moorhead, which marked the Auggies’ first-ever season sweep of the Cobbers.

HOCKEY (3-19-1 OVERALL, 1-16-1 MIAC—10th/10 in 2010-11 … 6-11-8 overall, 3-11-4 MIAC—8th/10 in 2011-12) -- Under second-year head coach Michelle McAteer, Augsburg finished 6-11-8 overall, 3-11-4 in MIAC play in 2011-12. Augsburg's six victories were more than the prior two seasons combined (five), and Augsburg's eight ties were the most in the 16-year history of the women's hockey program. Augsburg had a young roster with just three seniors, and the young players contributed much of the team’s scoring punch. First-year forward Rachel Hennessy was named to the All-MIAC squad, while first-year goalie Brianna Schulz earned All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors, and both were named to the conference’s All-Rookie Team. Hennessy was one of the top rookies in the nation in NCAA Division III women’s hockey, with 20 goals and 28 points. Schulz emerged as the team’s primary goalie, with a 2.65 goals-against-average, 619 saves and a .932 save percentage. Fifteen Auggies figured in the scoring column this season.

SWIMMING AND DIVING (10th/11 at MIAC Championships in 2011 … 11th/11 at MIAC Championships in 2012) -- Under second-year head coach Kasi Clauson Lange, Augsburg’s women’s swimming team had one of its successful seasons the nine-year history of the school's women's swimming program in 2011-12. Augsburg women's swimmers set two school records and 18 times that rank in the top 10 event times in school history at the MIAC Championships. As a team, Augsburg finished with 72 points at the MIAC Championships, its most points since scoring 74 at the 2007 conference meet. Six of the seven Auggies who competed at the MIAC Championships set top-10 historical times in either individual events or in relays on the weekend. Augsburg had one of its largest rosters in program history with 10 swimmers, including eight first-years and sophomores.

2011 OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD (8th/11 at MIAC Outdoor Championships in 2010 … 7th/12 at MIAC Outdoor Championships, t52nd at NCAA Division III National Championships in 2011) -- Under 17th-year head coach Dennis Barker, Augsburg's women's track and field team had one of its best seasons in recent history. The Auggies finished seventh at the MIAC outdoor championships -- Augsburg's best outdoor conference finish since 1996. The 400-meter relay squad of Kandace Bostick, Ashley Carney, Katie Vrieze and Shanek Telphia won the conference title for the second year in a row with a 48.39-second time, while Telphia won the league crown in the 200-meter dash, while placing second in the 100-meter dash and fourth in the long jump. Vrieze placed fifth in the 200-meter dash, while Caroline Senungi placed sixth in the 100-meter hurdles, Brittany Tuberg placed sixth in the pole valut and the Auggies’ 1,600-meter relay placed fifth. Telphia qualified for the NCAA Division III outdoor championships in the 200, finishing fifth nationally to earn All-America honors.