Nighthawks Late Run Tops Saints at Home - Saint Martin's began the game on a 15-0 run, stunning the Nighthawks. After the initial effort, Northwest Nazarene settled into the game, and used a 31-11 fourth quarter to edge past the Saints 66-58.
Claire Dingus led all Saints (11-11, 3-10 GNAC) scorers with 14 points, followed by Lauryn Morris at 13, and Tierney DeDonatis at 11. Emily Nelson nearly got to a double-double with eight points, and nine rebounds, and Rian Clear, and Josie Matz added six points each. The Saints led by as many as 12 in the fourth quarter, before the Nighthawks shot 10-for-14 from the field in the final frame.
Saints Fall To Central Washington On Senior Night - On a night where the Saints honored five seniors pre-game, it came down to the wire with in-state rival Central Washington. Tied 70-70 with just 1:30 left in the game, Central Washington snuck out of Marcus Pavilion with a win using an 8-0 run down the stretch to pull out the 78-73 score.
Before the game, Saint Martin's (11-12, 3-11 GNAC) honored the playing careers of Mallory Vivola, Tierney DeDonatis, Emma Wrede, Maryn Budiman, and Claire Dingus. The seniors DeDonatis and Dingus came out on fire and helped the Saints to halftime with a tied 31-31 ballgame. Central Washington (18-6, 11-4), who was ranked second in the most recent NCAA Regional poll, was unable to break away from the Saints all night until the final minutes. The Wildcats iced the game at the line, hitting their final six attempts.
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 in December.
DeDonatis' 4.00 GPA Leads Seven Saints To All-Academic Team - Headlined by Tierney DeDonatis' perfect 4.00 GPA, seven Saints from the women's basketball team were named to the GNAC All-Academic on Wednesday, presented by Barnes and Noble College.
DeDonatis, a senior Health Care Management – Grad Program major, was one of three student-athletes with a 4.00 GPA beyond their freshman year in all the conference. For DeDonatis, this marked the second straight season with a selection to the All-Academic team.
Claire Dingus, a junior accounting major, and Emma Wrede, a junior business administration major, each earned their team-high third selection to the All-Academic team. Wrede, a 3.88 GPA, and Dingus, a 3.63 GPA, were two of only 10 student-athletes to earn three or more All-Academic honors.
Janealle Sutterlict, a sophomore political science major, received her second honor with a 3.23 GPA.
Three Saints earned the honor for the first time in their careers in Maryn Budiman, Rian Clear, and Lauryn Morris. Budiman, a junior biology major, earned a 3.81. Clear, a freshman exercise science major, finished with a 3.56 GPA, and Morris, a freshman elementary education & communication double major, earned a 3.32 GPA.
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.
GNAC Announces Changes To Basketball Championships - The conference’s Management Council and CEO Board unanimously voted to expand this year’s tournament to all 10 men’s and women’s programs. The GNAC Championships will run from March 2 to 5.
To accommodate full fields in both genders, the first two rounds of games will be split between Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington, and Seattle Pacific University. In total, six games – two play-in contests and four quarterfinals matchups – will be contested at SPU’s Royal Brougham Pavilion. The other 12 games, including the semifinals and championship games in both genders, will be played at Marcus Pavilion on the campus of Saint Martin’s, which was awarded tournament-hosting rights two years ago.
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.
