Dixie State women's basketball: Focusing on title hunt

ST. GEORGE — The Dixie State College women's basketball team has one goal in mind for its 2009-2010 campaign: to win the Pacific West Conference.

The Red Storm fell one game short of a conference championship last year and with a strong returning nucleus and some valuable additions, the team has the league title on its mind.

"We have a lot of talent this year," said sophomore guard Shanae Vaifanua, a general education major from Hurricane. "We have strong posts this year and big guards. Definitely (to) win conference is the goal in mind."

Head coach Angela Kristensen said along with a conference championship, a postseason berth is another goal the Red Storm is seeking. The winner of the PacWest Conference will receive an automatic bid.

Kristensen said Dixie's three returning starters, senior forward Tanya Clark, senior guard Jessie Ingraham and Vaifanua will have to step up as leaders if the Red Storm are to be successful in 2009-10.

"You've got to pick up where you left off," Kristensen said. "We did a lot of good things last year, but we've brought in a lot of size this year so we are going to be better in half court, both offensively and defensively."

Clark, who led the team in rebounds and averaged more than nine points a game last year, will look to dominate in the post.

Vaifanua, who will be starting at guard, was a major contributor on both sides of the ball last year. She averaged 10.3 points, six rebounds and two steals per game.

Ingraham shot a team-best 41 percent from beyond the arc and drained 35 3-pointers last year, making her the top returning deep threat on the team.

"Really our team is trying to stress there is no individual success," said Ingraham. "We don't care how many points we score. It's about winning that championship."

Kristensen said Dixie's young new talent can come in and make a play at anytime. One of DSC's superb additions is three-sport star and former Las Vegas Review Journal "Athlete of the Year" Johnna Brown. Brown, a 6-foot tall freshman from Centennial High, will play forward for Dixie. She is also playing on the Red Storm softball team.

"We recruited some really good new kids," Kristensen said. "Any given night anybody can go off for this team."

The Red Storm is returning 10 players from last year's roster. Dixie State hopes to dominate during conference play especially against defending champs Grand Canyon University.

"The talent and the mentality to win this year is a lot stronger," Vaifanua said. "Grand Canyon is always a tough team to beat, but we are looking at a conference championship this year."

Kristensen said she was unhappy with the amount of turnovers Dixie gave away last year. She also said the Red Storm needs to focus on taking care of the ball to be successful.

Ingraham said if the team plays together, DSC will have a good year.

"Everyone has to know their roles and work together with athleticism," Ingraham said. "It's going to be a great one (season)."

Editor's note: The Dixie Sun is the student paper of Dixie State.