Trailblazers trek to MSU Denver and Chadron State

2019-20 DIXIE STATE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
(9-4, 4-3 RMAC)

GAME 14 - at MSU Denver (5-8, 4-3 RMAC)
Friday, Jan. 10 - 5:30 p.m.
Auraria Event Center; Denver, Colo.

GAME 15 - at Chadron State (3-13, 1-6 RMAC)
Saturday, Jan. 11 - 5:30 p.m.
Chicoine Center; Chadron, Neb.

The Dixie State women's basketball team hits the road for the first time in the new decade this week, trekking to Colorado and Nebraska for games against MSU Denver and Chadron State.

The Trailblazers will open the weekend on Friday in Denver for a showdown with MSU Denver, before making the five-hour drive to Chadron, Nebraska, for Saturday's matchup against Chadron State. Both games are scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time tipoff.

Live video and live stats will be provided for both games. Links can be found at http://www.dixiestateathletics.com/.

ALL-TIME VS. MSU DENVER: Friday's game marks the second meeting between Dixie State and MSU Denver. The Trailblazers earned a 62-55 victory in the debut meeting between the teams last season inside the Burns Arena just hours after the announcement of DSU's move to Division 1 status.

ALL-TIME VS. CHADRON STATE: Saturday's contest marks the second meeting between Dixie State and Chadron State, and will mark the first time since 2010 the Trailblazers have played a game in the state of Nebraska. DSU claimed an 87-52 triumph inside the Burns Arena last season in the first meeting between the teams.

KNOW YOUR FOE: MSU Denver enters the weekend with a 5-8 overall record and a 4-3 mark in RMAC play. The Roadrunners own conference wins over Regis, Colorado Christian, Chadron State, and Adams State. As a team, MSU Denver averages 59.8 points per game while allowing 66.4 points per game. Senior forward Bree Wellington leads the MSUD attack, averaging 10.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Morgan Lewis adds 9.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest.

Chadron State holds a 3-13 overall record and a 1-6 mark in RMAC play as the weekend begins. The Eagles earned a 69-65 win over Regis for their lone conference win of the year. As a team, Chadron State averages 58.4 points per game and allows 71.5 points per game. Two Eagles average double figure scoring, including junior guard Taryn Fox (13.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and senior guard Melisa Kadic (10.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg).

ON THE ROAD: Since joining the NCAA Division II ranks in 2006-07, Dixie State has recorded a 67-93 (.418) 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 51-52 (.495) conference road record and a 20-16 (.555) record in neutral-site games.

FROM DOWNTOWN: The Trailblazers have connected on at least eight 3-pointers in nine different games during the 2019-20 season, including five games of at least 10 triples. Through 13 games, DSU has converted an RMAC-best 108 attempts from downtown.

Additionally, Dixie State has converted at least one 3-pointer in each of its last 148 outings, dating back to the 2013-14 season. In all, it's been nearly six full years since the Trailblazers have not connected on at least one 3-point shot in a single game.

CRASHING THE BOARDS: Dixie State has out-rebounded its opponent in 10 of 13 games during the 2019-20 campaign and holds an 8-2 record in those contests. The Trailblazers currently rank second in the RMAC with 41.0 rebounds per game, averaging 4.3 rebounds more than their opponents in each game.

FILLING UP THE STAT SHEET: London Pavlica narrowly missed the second triple-double in DSU women's basketball history in Saturday's 77-72 win over Colorado School of Mines. Pavlica finished with 13 points, a career-high 11 assists, and nine rebounds.

CHASING HISTORY: After pouring in a career-high 27 points against Colorado School of Mines on Saturday, Ali Franks currently ranks fourth on the DSU women's basketball all-time scoring list with 957 career points. With 43 more points, Franks can become just the fourth player in program history to join the 1,000-point club.

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, and has posted a 40-50 record on the Trailblazer sideline. 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 returns to the Burns Arena next week to host Colorado Christian on Friday and Regis 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

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