Live Stats/Live Video – Live Stats and Live Video of all of SMU's Basketball games will be available with links found on smusaints.com. Live stats and video will be produced by the host school.
New Steam, Same Saints – In 2021, the Saints' broadcast of home games can be found on the SMUSaints YouTube channel. Links can be found on smusaints.com.
Social Media – Follow the Saints on Twitter for live in-game updates (@SMUSaints_WBB) and follow SMU Athletics on Facebook (Saint Martin's Saints), Twitter (SMUSaints), Instagram (SMUSaints)
Ticket Information – Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, public attendance will not be permitted at any Saints' home games this season.
Marcus Pavilion and TwinStar Court – All home Saints' basketball matches are played inside Marcus Pavilion, located on the campus of Saint Martin's. The Pavilion just celebrated its' 50th anniversary in 2017. The newly named TwinStar Court is located inside Marcus Pavilion.
Potential Starting Lineup –
Saints Cruise To 39 Point Win Over Northwest – From opening tip to the final buzzer, the Saints were in control of their 94-to-55 victory over Northwest on Friday night.
After winning back-to-back GNAC Player of the Week awards,
Claire Dingus is well on her way to a third, scoring 20 points, 10 rebounds, five steals, and three assists in just 28 minutes of action.
Rian Clear, who got into the starting lineup, added another 20 points, five rebounds, and three assists. The Saints (4-4) pulled away from the Eagles (0-2) just minutes into the first quarter, and never looked back. Their 94 points was the most since Jan. 2, 2020 against Alaska when SMU scored 96.
Saints Power Past Northwest In Weekend Sweep – For the second straight night, the Saints pulled away from Northwest, 84-to-59, behind dominating performances from
Claire Dingus and
Rian Clear.
The two forwards combined for 46 points, nearly outscoring Northwest (0-3) entirely. The Saints (5-4) fell behind at one point, 24-to-22, in the second quarter but from that moment on outscored Northwest 62-to-35 to secure their fifth win of the year. Ten different Saints scored on the night, while
Iternite Reed with her six points, six boards, four assists, and three steals, and
Janealle Sutterlict's five points, four rebounds, and six assists leading the effort off the bench.
NCAA Leaders –
Claire Dingus ranks ninth in the NCAA Division-II with 4.8 offensive rebounds per game. Her 10.2 rebounds is 27th best, and her 54.3 FG percentage is 28th overall.
Mallory Vivola's 39.6 percent beyond the arc is 56th, while the Saints as a team are 34th in 3-point percentage at 35.0.
Regional Ranked – The Saints enter the week ranked receiving votes in the West Region in the D2SIDA Media poll. Their 6th place ranking in late January marked the first in the
Christy Martin era.
Not Once, Not Twice, But Three Times - For the third time in four weeks, Dingus was named GNAC Player of the Week, averaging 22.5 points per game, 12.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists per game, and 3.5 steals per game.
Claire Dingus Notches Back-To-Back GNAC Player of the Week Awards – Seattle Pacific proved to have no answer for
Claire Dingus, as the junior averaged 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals and helped the Saints to a 16-point comeback over the Falcons.
Claire Dingus Named GNAC Player of the Week – Dingus was unstoppable at Northwest Nazarene, averaging 26.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. She set career-highs in scoring (28) and rebounding (16).
Chasing Milestones –
Claire Dingus has already surpassed a couple major career milestones including 500-rebounds, and 100-steals. In the second half of the year, she will be making a run for 1,000-career points. Currently, Dingus has recorded 856 points, along with 539 rebounds, and 107 steals. In active players in the GNAC, Dingus ranks 5th in career points, 2nd in rebounds, and 6th in steals.
Sharpshooter – To start the year, Vivola not only is third on the team in scoring at 9.3 points per game, she is shooting 19-for-48 from beyond the arc.
Monster On The Glass – Neither Seattle U or Seattle Pacific found a way to stop
Claire Dingus from dominating on the glass. After her 15 boards against Seattle U, Dingus went for nine and 12 against Seattle Pacific. She also managed three steals in both games against SPU. It all came together for her against Northwest Nazarene, as she set a career-high with 16 rebounds.
Historic Win – For the first time in 2005, the Saints went on the road, knocking off Northwest Nazarene. SMU scored 27 fourth quarter points to erase a double-digit deficit to pull off the comeback.
All-Focus on All-Conference Claire Dingus – Dingus enters 2020 as the center of the team. Coming off a second team All-Conference selection in 2019, Dingus is the returning leading scorer (12.2) and rebounder (8.9) on the team. She also managed eight double-doubles last year, bringing her career total to 12.
Setting Career-Highs – Against Division-I opponent Seattle U,
Claire Dingus dominated the boards, grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds. She later broke that with 16 against Northwest Nazarene. Dingus also managed a career-high in points with 28 against the Nighthawks the night after.
Top Five Returner –
Tierney DeDonatis wrapped up last season 10th in conference in assists per game at 2.7. She enters 2021 as the fourth highest returning player. DeDonatis ranked eighth in 3-point percentage (37.9) at the end of the year, and enters the year as the third highest returner.
Threat from Deep – Freshman standout
Janealle Sutterlict finished her rookie campaign ninth in conference in 3-pointers made (46) and ninth in 3-point percentage (37.7).
Defending Home Court – For the first time since 2013-14, the Saints reached double-digits in wins at Marcus Pavilion. SMU tied the 2013-14 mark with 11 wins.
Pack The Pavilion – Over 6,800 people attended SMU Basketball games last season... One of only three programs in the GNAC to reach the 6,000 mark.
Bring on the D-I's – For the fourth time in the last sixth years, the Saints will face a Division-I. In 2015, the Saints faced Eastern Washington, then Idaho in 2018, and Seattle U in 2019 and 2020.
From Spain to the Saints – SMU welcomes one of the furthest recruits in program history in 2021 in center
Laia Currius.
Meet the new Saints –
5
Leah Sopak G 5-7 FR Orinda, CA / Miramonte HS
20
Iternite Reed F 5-10 FR Gardena, CA / Santa Monica HS
22
Rian Clear F 5-10 FR Pullman, WA / Walla Walla HS
23
Ta'Keria Legette G 5-8 JR Latta, SC / Spartanburg Methodist College
25
Maryn Budiman G 5-9 JR Vancouver, WA / California Baptist
31
Laia Currius C 6-1 FR Taradell, Spain / Institut Taradell
