Dixie State Women’s Basketball Signs Two Vegas Prep Players to National Letters of Intent During Early Signing Period

(ST. GEORGE, Utah – November 18, 2008) – Dixie State College of Utah head women’s basketball coach Angela Kristensen announced Tuesday the signing of two players to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. Both signees, Deanna Daniels, a 5-11 guard/forward, and Rashawnda Gray, a 5-8 guard, are seniors at Las Vegas’ Centennial High School, and have committed to play at DSC in the upcoming 2009-10 season.“Both of these student-athletes are tremendous leaders both on and off the court and we look for them to make an immediate impact for us next season,” Coach Kristensen said. “They’ve both been coached by one of the most successful prep coaches in the country in Karen Weitz, so they are well prepared to play at the collegiate level. With both of these players receiving interest from a number of Division-I schools, we feel very fortunate that they chose to come to Dixie State.”Daniels, who is a three-time all-division and 2007 first-team all-state performer, has helped lead the Bulldogs to an 85-12 overall record, three-straight division titles, one region title and a state runner-up finish in her first three years of play. She averaged nearly a double-double as a junior at 14.0 points and 9.1 rebounds a game, along with 3.8 steals and 2.5 assists per outing. Daniels has also got the job done in the classroom as she has been listed on the honor roll all three years and was named Scholar Athlete as a sophomore.“Deanna has an unbelievable knack for the ball,” Kristensen noted. “She is a tenacious rebounder with very long arms and has a lot of upside as she continues to develop her perimeter skills.”Gray is a three-year letterwinner who got her first chance to start as a junior last season. She responded by averaging 9.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 steals at the off-guard position. “Rashawnda is a strong, athletic guard with a quick first step and has the ability to finish around the basket,” Kristensen said. “She is also a consistent shooter from the outside, so we look for her to be able to score a number of different ways.”

Underway By: Coach K

We have been at this now since the day after Labor Day – conditioning, weights, study hall, and classes and now it is officially started! We had 2 weeks of practice before hitting the hardwood for our first exhibition game over the weekend. I have been nothing less than impressed with this group of ladies we have that make up this team. They come to practice every day wanting to get better and giving me everything they have! I respect them for that and hopefully it will all pay off.

We played Southern Utah University this past Saturday evening. Exhibition games are always funny because you never really know what to expect. I like them because win or lose it gives the coaching staff a feel of where you are and what you have to do in order to get better. I feel that each player this year can give us something and that is what I am most proud of!

We didn’t shoot it very well (29% to be exact) but we made up for it in different areas. We had 22 offensive boards to their 7 and that gave us an opportunity to shoot it 14 more times. That might have been the difference in the ball game. They also shoot it from the free throw line better than their coach EVER did in college. I won’t even tell you what my overall percentage but we were 18 of 21 from the charity stripe – which is great!

The win was bittersweet because at the time of the game Southern Utah’s coach, Steve Hudson, was at home battling cancer and he just passed away earlier this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. We enjoyed the games we played against him and his teams and respect so much what he did for basketball in southern Utah!

We learned a lot about this team and our strengths and weaknesses! We hope we can do better as we head up to play Utah State on Friday and BYU on Saturday! Two weeks until the season officially kicks off!

Looking from the Outside In By: Lexe Jacobs

Where to begin! Last year I was recruited to come to play here at Dixie State by Coach K and Coach Larson. I committed, signed and before I knew it I was down in St. George getting ready for the season to start! Through out the summer and preseason I had been working so hard, I was determined to get some playing time. Preseason was a blast! Well, kinda... Early morning conditioning, weights, and pick-up all in one day was exhausting. Getting to know the girls and hangin out with them was awesome! I loved it. Preseason soon came to an end and we were stoked for the games to begin. I personally started off playing well and was playing with the team. That slowly went down hill; having a history of back problems was taking its toll and slowing me down. Sitting at the end of the bench wasn't exactly what I had expected, as well as the coaches. It was like I made a complete U turn. But the season was ending soon and I was determined to get my back ready and my self in shape for the next season! Little did I know the last game of the season would be the last game of my career.
Now that basketball is only something I watch and not physically be a part of, I wish I could go back. There are so many things I would change and do different with basketball. I wish I would have worked out the days I was too lazy and wasn't in the mood, I wish I would have stayed that extra half hour after practice to work on my shot. So many others; but mostly, I wish I would have realized how little time I had left. I took so many things for granted. So I guess the moral of my story is play and practice like its your last, because you really never know when it all comes to a halting screech. Do what you love and love what you do; don't waste your time!

CJ Miles Comes to Dixie!

The Dixie State Women's Basketball Team conducted a youth clinic this fall. Utah Jazz guard, CJ Miles, came down and volunteered his time for the clinic. It was for area youth ages K-8th grade. CJ and the girls did a great job and enjoyed the opportunity to work with kids in the community! I am not sure who got more out of the clinic - the kids or our girls as CJ taught them all a lot!


CJ Miles with the basketball team


Brandi with a participant from the camp



CJ Miles with the kids!

The Move, By: Tanya Clark

Ok, so basically, the 16th of August rolled around and it was time to say my goodbyes. The summer was awesome and it was a heartbreaker to leave all of my friends! I spent the summer back home in Beaumont , CA at my dad’s house. He kept trying to coax me to stay at home. “C’mon Tanya, there are plenty of schools out here you can go to! Just stay here.” I’m sure every college student went through that with their parents! I think everyone just got used to me being home, especially my little sister Erynn. “Whose going to read to me Tanya?” I was like seriously, I don’t want to leave!
The car ride was interesting to say the least. At first I was just going to drive up to St. George by myself but my dad offered to drive me. Between my dad singing country songs and my little sister asking me a million and one questions, I was going insane! My dad was going like 90 miles per hour. Until we got to the gorge I swear riding with him is like riding a roller coaster at an amusement park. But we always get there faster when he drives so that’s a plus!
I was really anxious when we arrived in St. George! We pulled in at about 11:30 p.m. and I wanted to meet my roomies! I already knew one, Jess Jones and I had seen Allison on my visit. Nani, on the other hand, was a mystery. A name like Nan …i I was like sweet, she’s Hawaiian! Boy was I wrong! The early morning hit and we were getting ready to leave the Ramada Inn. I was just really excited. My dad looked a little blue but I knew he was happy for me.
Around noon, I officially met my roommates! I found that Nani’s real name was Danielle and she was from Laguna Nigel. It didn’t take long to unload all of my stuff because there were plenty of hands. The coaches came by and made sure everything was going ok and they got to meet my family. My dad thought they were players at first! The apartment was very nice, I was impressed. I finally got my own room for the first time in my life! After a short tour of St. George, my family left and I started to get teary eyed. I’m a huge daddy’s girl. My advice to those who get homesick: Stay busy! Have fun with new friends and take each day in as a learning experience.
To make a really long story short, Nani, Allison and I had no couches, no table, and no lamps. When Jess Jones came into town, we acquired a few of those things and more. Getting it all over here took a while. Three girls, a couch, all of Jess’ things and an entertainment center isn’t the best combo on a hot summer’s day. It was hard, but we worked together to get the apartment furnished and we even made friends with our neighbors. After we worked out all the kinks we could truly call St. George our home away from home!

Coach K

Welcome to our Dixie State Women’s Basketball page. I am beginning to start my third year here at Dixie State College and I have never been more excited for a season than this year. I am from Plankinton, South Dakota which has a population of 600 people (probably what some people have in their graduating class). I started playing basketball at Huron University in South Dakota and ended at Briar Cliff University, in Sioux City, Iowa (where Coach Larson is from). Both schools were NAIA Division II. I played on some unbelievable teams and as much as I would like to think I was the “star”, I really was just a great role player (but don’t tell my players that.) I finished my career with a runner-up finish in the National Championship game my sophomore year and an overall record of 124-14. I feel that the college athletic experience is something I will never forget. College is where you find your friends for life. I still keep in contact with so many of my teammates and will never forget those times. Of course I also watch old game films and find myself yelling at things I should have been doing on the court. Good thing I didn’t coach myself, not sure if I would have given myself that much playing time haha!
Since I transferred to another institution, it took me five years to finish school. That gave me the opportunity to be a student assistant that final year. That is when I decided this is what I want to do with my life; become a college coach. I decided to follow my college coach and be an assistant at Metro State University in Denver, Colorado. I had a great experience there and decided I needed my Master’s if I wanted to pursue this profession. I was hired to be a Graduate Assistant at Northwest Missouri State University and I received my Master’s there as well. I spent two years there before I got my first shot as a Head Coach.
My very first head job was at College of Saint Mary’s in Omaha, Nebraska, a small private all-women’s institution. Talk about an experience! I didn’t have an assistant, was a first year coach, and had to find ways to finish practice with 7 kids. I learned more that first year than I ever could imagine! We got better every year and my final year we made it to the NAIA National Tournament and finished in the Sweet 16. We made history that year. Coach Larson joined my staff that year after she got done playing, so she likes to take a lot of credit for going to Nationals (We will let her think she played a big part).
I am excited to share my experiences with you about Dixie State! We are very excited for this upcoming year and I can’t wait to tell you how awesome my staff and players are! Go DSC!

Coach Larson

Hi Everyone!
I would like to introduce myself for those of you who don’t know me. I am Coach Larson and this will be my third year as an Assistant Coach at Dixie State. I couldn’t be more excited for this year, expectations are high and now all we have to do is follow through! A little bit about my history…..My playing career started at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, IA (also home to Courtney Boyd our senior point guard.) After one year at Kirkwood I transferred down to NCAA II Pittsburg State University in Kansas. I played one season at Pittsburg before my career was cut short by a knee injury. Suffering a career-ending injury is never easy but it did give me the opportunity to begin my coaching career as an Undergraduate Assistant. I always knew I wanted to be a college coach and was excited to get started! After Pittsburg State I moved up to Omaha, NE to be an assistant under Coach Kristensen at College of St. Mary, a small NAIA school. We had a great season and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school history. Coach Kristensen applied for the head job here at Dixie State and was hired that June (of course I’m still trying to convince her it was all because of her Assistant Coach but she can be kind of stubborn!) So here I am out in Utah in a place I didn’t even know existed (all I knew was that is was 90 miles from Las Vegas.) St. George is a great place to live and I am surrounded by great coaches and players. I consider myself very lucky; I think I have the best job in the world!