Saints Ranked 25th In Latest Media Poll - For the first time in program history, the Saint Martin's women's basketball team is nationally ranked, being voted tied for 25th in the latest D2SIDA Media poll on Tuesday.
The Saints have begun the 2021-22 season with a 5-1 record including standout wins over Hawaii Pacific, Sonoma State, Chico State, and St. Mary's. Their five straight wins were the most since 2004-05 when SMU won their opening six games.
Saints Hold On For 63-61 Victory Over St. Mary's - It was a tale of two halves as the Saints toppled St. Mary's 63-61 to begin their Thanksgiving weekend trip to Texas.
Saint Martin's (5-0) rolled through the opening half, taking a 39-17 lead into the break. However, St. Mary's (0-5) began chipping away throughout the second half, eventually taking a 3-point lead with 1:15 left in the game. Once again, it was Claire Dingus, GNAC Player of the Week, winning the game for the Saints, hitting a clutch 3-pointer to tie, then winning the game at the free throw line with a pair of free throws.
Saints Perfect Start Comes To An End At Texas A&M International - The perfect start to the 2021-22 season came to an end on Thanksgiving Day as the Saints fell to Texas A&M International 91-82.
Reigning GNAC Player of the Week Claire Dingus put up her second 30-point game of the season, leading the Saints (5-1) offensively. There was no shortage of offense all game by either side, as the Saints' 82 points were a season high. However, Texas A&M International (3-0) was able to outpace the Saints on 61.5 percent shooting from the field.
Dingus Drills Game-Winning Shot Over Chico State - Trailing by one with just 24 seconds left, the Saints turned the game over to All-American Claire Dingus. With the game on the line, Dingus drove to the paint and pulled up for a game-winning jumper, as the Saints knocked off Chico State 55-54.
Extending their perfect start to 4-0 was not easy for the Saints, as SMU largest lead of the game was only six points. Dingus led the way with 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Dingus, along with Rian Clear, and Lauryn Morris, combined for 49 of the Saints' 55 points on the day.
Dingus' Stellar Performances Lands Her GNAC Player of the Week - There was no stopping the All-American forward down in Oregon, as Claire Dingus hit two game-winning shots to lift the Saints to a perfect week, and Dingus was named the GNAC Player of the Week on Monday.
Dingus played in all three games for the Saints, leading Saint Martin's to a perfect 4-0 start on the 2021-22 campaign. During the week, Dingus averaged 22.3 points per game, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.3 steals, while shooting a stellar 58 percent from the field.
Claire Dingus Tabbed As GNAC Preseason All-Conference Selection - Another season is about to begin, and another award rolled in for Saint Martin's All-American Claire Dingus. The junior forward was unanimously selected for the 2021 GNAC Preseason All-Conference team.
Jessica Jones of Simon Fraser was voted the Preseason Player of the Year. Ten players were selected to the team unanimously with Western Washington leading the way with three.
Dingus, who was a 2021 WBCA All-American honorable mention last season, averaged 17.5 points per game, and 10.2 rebounds per game. She also led the team with 1.9 steals per game and was efficient from the floor. Dingus shot 55.9 percent from the field, and 45.8 from beyond the arc.
For Dingus, the preseason award joins her long list of accolades which include being a 2020 GNAC second team All-Conference, 2019-20 GNAC Preseason Unanimous All-Conference, the 2018-19 GNAC Freshman of the Year, and a three-time GNAC Player of the Week.
Saints ranked sixth in GNAC Preseason Poll - Led by 2020-21 WBCA All-American Claire Dingus, Saint Martin's women's basketball was voted sixth in the 2021-22 GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll on Wednesday afternoon.
Alaska Anchorage narrowly edged out Western Washington for the top spot, with the Seawolves collecting 92 points on seven first place votes. The Vikings garnered 89 points on two first place votes.
Northwest Nazarene, who received the final first place vote, finished third with 70 points. Simon Fraser (69 points), Central Washington (60) and Saint Martin's (48) made up the middle of the pack. Rounding out the polling was Montana State Billings (47), Seattle Pacific (43), Western Oregon (20), and Alaska (12).
There will be no secret as to whom the Saints will turn to during the season. Dingus, who was the program's first All-American since 1996 and first since the Saints joined the NCAA, averaged a double-double last season. Her 17.5 points per game, 10.2 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 55.9 field goal percentage ranked the best on the team, and among the best in the GNAC. During the season, Dingus was named the GNAC Player of the Week three times.
But Dingus will have an experienced cast returning with her in 2021-22, with all five starters coming back. Point guard Tierney DeDonatis returns to fold with her second-best 11.1 points per game, and team-leading 41 assists. Rian Clear, who came on strong for the Saints down the stretch, was third in scoring at 8.0 points per game, along with 3.9 rebounds per contest.
Guards Janealle Sutterlict (6.2 points per game, 27 assists), and Lauryn Morris (5.7 points per game, 22-for-22 free throws) provide always needed depth and experience in the back court. Also returning is Maryn Budiman (2.5 points per game, 12 assists) played in all 13 games, making six starts last season.
Down low, Iternite Reed (3.8 points per game, 3.1 rebounds), and Emily Nelson (5.6 points per game, 3.1 rebounds) give the Saints depth, and the ability to play many different styles of defense.
Saint Martin's welcomes in two newcomers to the fold in Portland transfer Josie Matz, a 5-10 junior guard, and Chenoa Louie, a 5-11 freshman forward from Ephrata, Washington.
