Trailblazers take first RMAC trip to New Mexico Highlands and CSU-Pueblo

2019-20 DIXIE STATE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
(6-3, 1-2 RMAC)

GAME 10 - at New Mexico Highlands (1-6, 0-2 RMAC)
Friday, Dec. 13 - 5:30 p.m.
John A. Wilson Complex; Las Vegas, N.M.

GAME 11 - at CSU-Pueblo (2-5, 1-1 RMAC)
Saturday, Dec. 14 - 5:30 p.m.
Massari Arena; Pueblo Colo.

After a seven-game homestand, Dixie State women's basketball hits the road this week for its first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference road trip of the season.

The Trailblazers (6-3, 1-2 RMAC) will head first to Las Vegas, New Mexico, to take on New Mexico Highlands on Friday. Dixie State will close the trip at CSU-Pueblo in Pueblo, Colorado, on Saturday. Both games are scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff. Live video and live stats will be provided for both games. Links can be found at www.dixiestateathletics.com/.

ALL-TIME VS. NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS: Friday's game marks the second meeting between Dixie State and New Mexico Highlands. The Trailblazers cruised to a 70-59 win over the Cowgirls last season in the Burns Arena in the first meeting between the teams.

ALL-TIME VS. CSU-PUEBLO: Saturday's contest marks the third meeting between Dixie State and CSU-Pueblo. The teams first met on Nov. 24, 2012, at the MSU Billings Thanksgiving Classic in Billings, Montana. The Trailblazers claimed a 67-61 victory in the debut matchup, before dropping a 73-70 heartbreaker to the Thunderwolves inside the Burns Arena last season. The series is currently tied at 1-1, while Saturday's game marks the first meeting between the teams in Pueblo.

KNOW YOUR FOE: New Mexico Highlands enters the weekend with a 1-6 overall record and an 0-2 mark in RMAC play. The Cowgirls earned a 66-59 victory over Northern New Mexico College on November 18 for their first victory of the season. NMHU opened its RMAC schedule last week with losses to Fort Lewis and Adams State. Jordyn Lewis leads the RMAC in scoring with 21.0 points per game, while Ashley Antone adds 11.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

CSU-Pueblo enters the weekend with a 2-5 overall record and a 1-1 mark in RMAC play. The Thunderwolves split their first two conference games, including a 64-50 win over Adams State and a loss to Fort Lewis. Sophomore guard JaNaiya Davis ranks fourth in the RMAC, averaging 16.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

ON THE ROAD: Since joining the NCAA Division II ranks in 2006-07, Dixie State has recorded a 65-93 (.411) record in true-road games and has logged a winning record on the road three times (2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13). Additionally, the Trailblazers have posted a 49-52 (.485) conference road record and a 20-16 (.555) record in neutral-site games.

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 is in 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 host Yellowstone Christian in an exhibition matchup on December 30, before returning to RMAC action on January 3-4 vs. UCCS and Colorado School of Mines.

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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

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