Electric Night For Clear and Dingus Not Enough In 90-75 Loss To Central Washington - Despite massive scoring nights from Rian Clear, and Claire Dingus, Saint Martin's fell on the road 90-75 to Central Washington on Thursday night.
Central Washington (10-4, 3-2 GNAC) had no answer for Clear in the opening 20 minutes as the freshman led the way with 26 points. Clear finished the night with a career-high 34 points on 14-for-20 shooting. Dingus, who was quiet in the first half with four points, ended with 23 along with seven rebounds, and three steals. However, Central Washington shot nearly 58 percent from the field, and refused to allow the Saints (9-5, 1-4) to close the gap late in the fourth quarter.
Claire Dingus Leads Saints With 22-points, 12-rebounds In Loss To NNU - Despite a double-double from Claire Dingus at 22 points, 12 rebounds, Saint Martin's fell 78-65 to Northwest Nazarene on the road Saturday night.
Following up her 23-point, 7-rebound night against Central Washington on Thursday, Dingus led the Saints (9-6, 1-5 GNAC) with her sixth 20+ performance of the season. Tierney DeDonatis and Lauryn Morris added 13 points each, with Morris grabbing eight rebounds. Along with Rian Clear's nine points, the four combined for 57 of the Saints' 65 points on the day.
Saints' WBB Named GNAC Team of the Week - After easily sweeping through both Pacific and Simpson at home, the Saint Martin's women's basketball program was named the GNAC Team of the Week.
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.
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.
