Munns, Brown, Hayes lead DSU to tourney win over Hilo

Career high for senior center moves Storm to league semifinal

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AZUSA, Calif. – Seniors Mandy Munns (Brigham City, UT/Box Elder) and Johnna Brown (Las Vegas, NV/Centennial ) combined for 42 points on Thursday afternoon leading the Dixie State University women's basketball tam to an 81-63 victory over the University of Hawai'i Hilo in the quarterfinals of the Pacific West Conference Tournament.

Munns, the fifth-year transfer, posted a career-high 22 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor and 8-of-10 shots from the foul line. In 16 quality minutes off the bench, she added an assist, one block and two steals.

“I think we have stuck together and this was one of the games we played together as a team,” Munns said. “We have a great team and every girl has a key role that is necessary for us to be successful.”

Dixie State bested the Vulcans (13-11) 40-26 in the paint thanks to Munns' stellar play and a solid 18-point, eight rebound effort from Brown, named a PacWest First Team member before the game.

“We did a good job of shooting the high-low and taking advantage of our height,” DSU head coach Derek Dawes said. “Our posts were battling low and keeping the defense honest with the midrange jumper. I thought it was a really well rounded performance against a good team.”

The teams traded the lead five times in the opening five minutes. Dixie State (15-12) had the lead at 19-15 at the 11:52 mark. UH Hilo was held without a bucket for 9:42 while the Red Storm went on a 12-0 spurt. Munns scored the first four points with a jumper and a pair of free throws. Kirsten Marie Liana (Honolulu, HI/Farrington) drained a 3-pointer to cap the run and force the Vulcans to regroup.

Dixie State led 37-19 at the break and pushed the advantage to 25 points early in the second half. Munns had 15 of her 22 after the break. Erica Hayes (East Palo Alto, CA/Menlo-Atherton) netted five points in the second half, but cleaned up six boards (four offensively) leading to a great night. Hayes had 11 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals in 29 minutes.

Jameia McDuffie with 17 points and Jazzmyn Davis with 14 points, nine rebounds, led UH Hilo.

Dixie State advances to the semifinals of the PacWest Tournament at 4 p.m. Mountain Time on Friday against the top-seeded Sea Warriors of Hawai'i Pacific. DSU dropped its lone meeting with HPU, 79-72, at the Burns Arena on Feb. 25.

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