Second Half Surge Leads Saints to Victory Over Pacific - Saint Martin's erased an early nine-point deficit to Pacific, surging to a 22-point victory on Thursday night.
The Saints (7-2), trailing by one at half, turn the corner quickly in the second half. SMU finished the half 18-30 from the field and cruised down the stretch to another victory. Rian Clear and Lauryn Morris led the Saints with Clear finishing with 24 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Morris, celebrating a birthday, ended with 13 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
Saints' WBB Wraps Up Non-Conference With 76-65 Victory over Simpson - Saint Martin's opened the game with the first 10 points and never looked, sweeping past Simpson 76-65 on Friday night.
In the opening quarter, seven different Saints (8-2) got into the scoring ledger. Simpson (2-10) struggled to find an answer to the Saints' offense down low as SMU finished with 48 points down low. Claire Dingus led the way with a team-high 24 points, 19 of which came in the first half.
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.
