DSU women’s slide continues with fifth loss to open season

Written by Darren Cole
November 21, 2016
File photo of Dixie State University vs. Cal State East Bay University, Women's Basketball, St. George, Utah, Nov. 21, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – The Dixie State women’s basketball team dropped its fifth game to open the season. Two big runs helped the visiting California State-East Bay Pioneers to a 68-52 win over the Trailblazers.

Once again it was turnovers that doomed the Blazers. They committed 22, with 17 of those coming on Pioneer steals. That led to 25 points for CSU-East Bay. The Pioneers also were perfect at the line and outscored the Blazers there 12-4.

blazerDDSU started the game strong with a three-point play from Shelby Kassuba. They maintained a 2-3 point lead through the first seven minutes. With three minutes left in the first, however, the visitors started a run that turned a 12-10 Blazer lead into a 22-12 Pioneer lead. During the run, the Blazers missed six shots and turned the ball over four times.

“We have stretches of good play, and then we have stretches where we shoot ourselves in the foot,” said Dixie State head coach J.D. Gustin. “We have stressed the importance of each possession and careless turnovers have been our downfall this season.”

Matti Ventling’s 3-pointer with 7:20 remaining in the second quarter ended the run and pulled the Blazers to 22-15. They then matched the Pioneers’ play the remainder of the half. Kassuba’s pull-up jumper in the final minute cut the lead to six, 29-23, to go into the locker rooms.

Dixie State's Ashlee Burge (20), Dixie State University vs. Cal State East Bay University, Women's Basketball, St. George, Utah, Nov. 21, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie State’s Ashlee Burge (20), Dixie State University vs. Cal State East Bay University, Women’s Basketball, St. George, Utah, Nov. 21, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

The Trailblazers did not repeat the fast start in the second half. Two quick turnovers turned into five quick points and another double-digit lead for CSU-EB. It was again a Ventling 3-pointer that broke the run. But the Pioneers would keep the lead between 8-12 points throughout the remainder of the third quarter.

Ventling’s third trey of the night and a Sandria Bolden jump shot from the left side cut the Pioneer lead to seven with 8:26 remaining in the game. Then the Blazers went cold again. Over the next four minutes, they missed eight straight shots and committed two more turnovers and CSU-EB’s lead grew to 21. Ali Franks got a steal and layup to end the run, but with 3:42 remaining the Blazer deficit was 66-47. A 3-pointer by Tramina Jordan and a bucket from Kili Franks rounded out the Blazer scoring to end the game.

Individually for Dixie State, Jordan and Ventling led the team with 11 points apiece. Ashley Burge led the team with five assists. Ali Franks led the team with four steals. DSU had very little action in the paint, scoring most of their points off jump shots.

“They surprised us with a 2-3 zone,” said Gustin. “We were not expecting that and really have not had a chance to practice against it. I am sure we will see a lot more of it now.”

The Pioneers improve to 2-2. DSU falls to 0-5 and will travel to Salt Lake City this Friday to take on future RMAC foe Westminster College. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @oldschoolag

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darren Cole recently returned to sportswriting after a 20-plus year hiatus. While pursuing other studies, he developed an early passion for sports writing as a senior writer and sports editor for the Ricks College Scroll in 1988-89. Darren has spent the last 20 years writing legal memorandi and appellate briefs. In addition to his legal career, he has also taught legal and criminal justice courses at the university level for nine years as an adjunct professor. Darren is married to wife Lisa, has two sons and is a confessed sports junkie.

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