UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE | March 29, 2024

Women’s basketball team gets back on track

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After two consecutive losses, the Dixie State University women’s basketball team soared over the Holy Names University Hawks with a 95-80 win.

The Storm had a strong beginning with a 15-point lead, but their lead dwindled until halftime when HNU was only down by nine with a 39-48 score. The Storm regained their momentum during the second half with some much-needed 3-pointers by junior guard Kaylah Miller in a victory over HNU.

Dixie had a total of 55 rebounds. Junior center Haileigh Emerine pulled down 18 rebounds, including 12 defensive boards.

The Storm shot 50 percent from the field. Senior guard Haley Holmstead led the team in scoring with a total of 38 points in the Storm’s 15-point win over the Hawks.

Miller added 19 more points and had a team-high of seven assists.

“This is a huge win,” said Holmstead, a communication major from American Fork. “I feel like we … got the bitter taste in our mouth to come back and win this for our coach.”

Head coach Catherria Turner was the former head coach for the HNU basketball program previous to Dixie. This win could be the start of a turn around for Dixie’s season.

“It felt nice to get this win for her,” Holmstead said.

The Storm now improve to a 9-11 overall record and 7-7 in the Pacific West Conference. The Hawks fall to a 9-11 overall record and fall to 5-9 in the PacWest Conference.

Turner said in preparation for this game, she has been making sure the women are in their right positions defensively, with each woman guarding her opponent as well as redefining and editing her defensive style.

“I honestly feel that if we do play defense, then our offense will come,” Turner said.

Those results are what Turner is hoping for as DSU takes on University of Hawaii-Hilo Thursday.

“Our conference is one of those conferences that any day anybody can win,” Turner said. “We are just attacking it the same way as any other game.”

She said the team is working on its defensive principles and going through its plays.

“[We are] definitely giving respect to everybody in the conference,” Turner said.

DSU has five games remaining in the season, three of which are at home.  

The Storm will face UH-Hilo at 5 p.m. in the Burns Arena Thursday and will play again Saturday against Chaminade University.