Utah Tech University Athletics

Women's Basketball 1/3/2014 12:06:00 AM Jeff Cluff, Coordinator of Media Relations

WBB Begins 2014 with Victory over Hawaii Hilo

Woods and Mann each earn first career double-doubles

Box Score HILO, Hawaii – The Dixie State University women's basketball team started 2014 in the right way on Thursday night with a 67-63 Pacific West Conference victory at University of Hawaii at Hilo.

The win was the departments 1,000 in the seven and half years that DSU has been a NCAA Division II member.

Four players Red Storm (4-6/2-2 PWC) scored in double figures, including 18 points from Haley Holmstead (American Fork, UT/American Fork). Both Taylor Mann (Castle Dale, UT/Emery) (11 points and 10 rebounds) and Nanea Woods (Portland, OR/St. Mary's Academy) (14 points and 12 rebounds) registered double-doubles for the first time in their Dixie State careers.

"It was good to get a win after coming off of Christmas break and then make the trip to Hawaii, said head coach Catherria Turner. "Hilo was a good team and it was a great test for us."

DSU took advantage of the Vulcans (3-6/2-3 PWC) on the boards 58-41, including a game high 14 rebounds from Haileigh Emerine (Spanish Fork, UT/Spanish Fork).

Turner continued, "We had a few post players step and get key rebounds this game."

The Red Storm opened up its largest lead of the game with 9:11 left when Brianna White (Phoenix, AZ/Tolleson Union) connected from downtown to give them a 13 point advantage.

The Vulcans responded by cutting the DSU lead to 45-39 at intermission.

In the second half, Kaylah Miller (San Diego, CA/La Jolla Country Day) scored 12 of her 15 points by connecting on three shots from behind the arc.

UH Hilo cut the DSU lead to one point twice in the second half, the first time came at 49-48 with 13:41 remaining. But an 8-0 run capped off by a Miller three pointer built the Storm lead back to eight points.

The last time the Vulcans shaved the lead, was at 58-57 with 5:15 left. But another 5-0 run that included three free throws from Miller helped to secure the DSU victory.

The Red Storm shot just 4-30 from the field in the second half, with three of the baskets three pointers by Miller. The rest of the DSU points came at the foul line (11-18). Despite the dismal second half shooting, the Red Storm finished at 33.3 percent from the field.

Coach Turner concluded, "We are excited about the 'New Year' and the games to come."

The Red Storm make the short flight tomorrow to Oahu for their next match-up with Chaminade on Saturday night at 5 p.m. HT (8 pm MT).

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