2019-20 WBB - Season Opener Preview Photo

Amber Wallis Photography

Women's Basketball 11/7/2019 1:56:00 PM By DSU Athletics Media Relations

Women’s Basketball opens 2019-20 campaign in Texas

Dixie State Women's Basketball vs. UT-Tyler / at Midwestern State
Date/Time	Friday, Nov. 8 - vs. UTT - 1 p.m. CT (Noon MT) - Wichita Falls, Texas Saturday, Nov. 9 - at MSU - 8 p.m. CT (7 p.m. MT) - Wichita Falls, Texas
Live Video	Midwestern State (Pay-Per-View)
Live Stats	UT-Tyler , Midwestern State
Game Notes	Dixie State (PDF) , UT-Tyler , Midwestern State
DSU Social Media	@DixieAthletics (Twitter score updates) Facebook \| Instagram
Hashtags	#DixieBlazers #RMACwbb

Dixie State women's basketball opens its 2019-20 season this weekend with two games in Wichita Falls, Texas.

The Trailblazers begin the weekend with a 1 p.m. Central Time (Noon MT) matchup against UT-Tyler on Friday, followed by an 8 p.m. CT (7 p.m. MT) battle with host Midwestern State on Saturday.

Live stats will be provided for both games, while live video will only be provided for Saturday's matchup against Midwestern State. Links for both can be found at www.dixiestateathletics.com.

ALL-TIME IN SEASON OPENERS: Friday's game will represent the 10th time the Trailblazers have opened the season away from the Burns Arena. Dixie State currently holds a 6-7 overall mark in season-opening contests, including a 2-0 record in neutral-site games.

DIXIE STATE IN THE LONE STAR STATE: Friday's game against UT-Tyler will mark the first time the Trailblazers have played a women's basketball game in the state of Texas.

ALL-TIME VS. UT-TYLER: Friday's matchup marks the first meeting between Dixie State and UT-Tyler.

ALL-TIME VS. MIDWESTERN STATE: Saturday's game marks the first meeting between Dixie State and Midwestern State.

KNOW YOUR FOE: UT-Tyler begins its first season as a member of the Lone Star Conference during the 2019-20 campaign as the Patriots continue their transition from NCAA Division III to Division II status. The Patriots posted a 13-11 record during the 2019-20 season and return two starters, including sophomore guard Tyreesha Blaylock (5.9 ppg/3.3 rpg/2.2 apg) and senior guard Beezy Birchette (5.7 ppg/5.4 rpg/2.2 apg).

Midwestern State posted a sixth-place finish in the Lone Star Conference during the 2018-19 season, finishing with a 12-16 overall record and 9-11 mark in LSC play. The Mustangs return four starters from last season, including junior forward Hannah Reynolds (10.9 ppg), senior forward Elizabeth Cathcart (10.5 ppg), senior guard Mica Schneider (8.5 ppg), and junior forward Kityana Diaz (8.3 ppg).

DSU PICKED NINTH IN PRESEASON POLL: After finishing in 10th place during the 2018-19 season, the Trailblazers were tabbed to finish in ninth place in the 2019-20 RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

2019-20 TRAILBLAZERS: Dixie State is fresh off its first overall winning season since the 2012-13 season and the first season of .500 or better in conference play since 2013-14. Additionally, the Trailblazers posted an 11-4 mark inside the Burns Arena during the 2018-19 campaign, marking the most home wins since the 2010-11 season.

DSU will look to add to last year's success during the 2019-20 season, and returns six players from last year's squad, including two starters and two redshirts.

Senior guard Ali Franks (12.6 ppg/4.5 apg) and junior guard Keslee Stevenson (9.8 ppg) represent the Trailblazers' returning starters, while two reserves also return, including sophomore guard London Pavlica (6.3 ppg/4.7 rpg) and senior guard Madi Loftus (5.9 ppg). Additionally, Deshka Olson and Kelsea Barker return after redshirting during the 2018-19 season.

The Trailblazers added four transfer players for the 2019-20 season, including redshirt sophomore guard Ashley Greenwood, junior guard Breana Moea'i, senior forward Chesney Stevens, and junior center Makayla Johnson.

Greenwood averaged 19.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 steals, and 3.5 assists per game as a senior at Desert Hills High School before playing one season at BYU. Greenwood holds the DHHS single-game scoring record and led the Thunder to two region titles and one state championship.

Moea'i played two seasons at Miles Community College after prepping at Pine View and Highland High School. Moea'i averaged 10.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per game last season as a sophomore at Miles CC, earning first team All-Region honors.

Stevens played two seasons at the College of Southern Idaho before spending her junior season at Division II Florida Southern. Stevens averaged 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds during the 2018-19 season, helping the Mocs to the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen.

Johnson played her freshman season at Division I Louisiana Tech before transferring to Hutchinson Community College last season for her sophomore campaign. Johnson averaged 4.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore.

Four new freshmen join the ranks this year in guards Breaunna Gillen, Maggie McCord, and Payton Miller, along with forward Emily Isaacson.

Gillen averaged 18.0 points and 6.2 rebounds as a senior at Copper Hills High School. McCord averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a senior at Bingham High School. Miller led Millard High School to its first-ever state championship as a senior. Isaacson averaged 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game as a senior at Box Elder High School.

COACHING STAFF: Head Coach JD Gustin begins his fourth season at Dixie State in the 2019-20 campaign. Prior to Dixie State, Gustin served as an assistant coach at Weber State, where he helped lead the Wildcats to a 23-12 record and a runner-up finish in the 2016 Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament.

Prior to Weber State, Gustin spent four years at the University of Utah, serving as director of women's basketball operations from 2011-13 and women's basketball assistant coach from 2013-15. He helped guide the Utes to a runner-up finish in the 2013 Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT).

Before his time at Utah, he served as head women's basketball coach at Westminster College for seven seasons from 2004-11, where he compiled a 146-83 record and led the Griffins to five consecutive NAIA National Championship tournament appearances. He led Westminster to its first-ever NAIA tournament berth in 2006-07, and guided the Griffins to the quarterfinals of the NAIA championships for the first time in school history with a school-record 28 wins in 2010-11. Gustin won three Frontier Conference championships, including a perfect 14-0 conference mark in 2008-09.

Gustin is again joined by fourth-year assistant Nicole Yazzie (Westminster, 2013), while Matt Legerski (Utah, 2001) and Kailie Quinn (Weber State, 2018) join the staff for the 2019-20 season.

UP NEXT: Dixie State will open its home schedule next week, hosting La Sierra on Friday at 2 p.m. and Life Pacific at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

#23 Ali Franks: Guard; 5' 10"; Junior

#22 Deshka Olson: Guard; 5' 8"; Junior

#12 Madi Loftus: Guard; 5' 9"; Junior

#11 Keslee Stevenson: Guard; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#1 London Pavlica: Guard; 5' 7"; Freshman

#24 Kelsea Barker: Guard; 5' 7"; Freshman

#14 Payton Miller: GUARD; 5' 7"; Freshman

#24 Ashley Greenwood: GUARD; 5' 7"; Redshirt Sophomore

#20 Breaunna Gillen: GUARD; 5' 9"; Freshman

#21 Emily Isaacson: FORWARD; 5' 11"; Freshman

#15 Maggie McCord: GUARD; 5' 8"; Freshman

#5 Breana Moea'i: FORWARD; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#23 Ali Franks
: 5' 10"; Junior
: Guard

#22 Deshka Olson
: 5' 8"; Junior
: Guard

#12 Madi Loftus
: 5' 9"; Junior
: Guard

#11 Keslee Stevenson
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: Guard

#1 London Pavlica
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: Guard

#24 Kelsea Barker
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: Guard

#14 Payton Miller
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: GUARD

#24 Ashley Greenwood
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Sophomore
: GUARD

#20 Breaunna Gillen
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: GUARD

#21 Emily Isaacson
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: FORWARD

#15 Maggie McCord
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: GUARD

#5 Breana Moea'i
: 5' 10"; Junior
: FORWARD