UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE | April 26, 2024

Tag: DSU women's basketball

COVID-19 impact on the women’s basketball team

by Zoe HansenPosted on

After the chaos COVID-19 wreaked on the Dixie State University women’s basketball team in the 2020-2021 season, the Trailblazers are moving forward with renewed energy.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team only had the opportunity to play a few games, then the season was officially cancelled.

JD Gustin, head coach of DSU women’s basketball team, said the team is recovering after the struggle of the previous season. The team has been able to start fresh.

Gustin said not being able to have a season last year made the team appreciate the opportunity they have this season and how special it is to play college basketball.

Since COVID-19 has not taken a toll on DSU women’s basketball team this season, players are able to continue to better themselves and their overall game play.

Sophomore forward Emily Isaacson, a general studies major from Perry, said, “I love the challenge of being the best I can be and continually bettering myself, and finding things to work on and improve.”

To keep COVID-19 from affecting the season negatively, the team is taking all precautions and is following specific guidelines given by the NCAA Division 1 organization.

Main guidelines

For unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated, close contact with COVID-19 requires, “Quarantine at home for five days. After that, continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others for five additional days.”

For fully vaccinated, close contact with COVID-19 requires, “No quarantine. Wear a well-fitting mask socially when not actively training/competing for 10 days. Test on day five, if possible, and test symptomatic individuals.”

For all, a positive COVID-19 test requires, “Isolate for five days. If no symptoms or symptoms are resolving after five days, isolation may end. Continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others for five additional days. If there is a fever, continue to isolate until fever resolves.”

Guard Shanaijah Davison, a senior communication studies major from Woodland, California, said the virus has affected her basketball season in a positive way.

Davison said unlike many others, COVID-19 has had a great impact on her college basketball experience, which influenced her to leave the previous university she attended, Long Beach State University.

When COVID-19 hit, Davison had the time to go home and reflect on how she wanted her college basketball career to continue. DSU provided the game play that fit her style of play best, and as a result she decided to play her last season at DSU.

As a Trailblazer, Davison was eligible to play her first game this season on Jan. 13 against Seattle University. The team won the game against Seattle, and Davison was player of the game with 20 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals.

As the Trailblazers have led a COVID-19 free season so far, they will attempt to finish the remainder of the 2021-2022 season strong.

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Athlete of the Month award: demonstrates leadership skills

by Zoe HansenPosted on

Sophomore forward, No. 22, Emily Isaacson, was awarded Athlete of the Month for her demonstration of great leadership skills and athletic abilities.

“I am very honored to be selected as Athlete of the Month, it means a lot to me that my efforts to work hard and improve myself are showing both on and off the court which is all that I could ask for,” said Emily Isaacson, a sophomore general studies major from Perry.

Isaacson had the opportunity to play eight games her first year before missing the rest of her season due to injury. She ended her short season with an average of 4.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Isaacson recovered from her previous injuries her first year, and was able to come back and begin playing her second year on Dixie State University’s Women’s Basketball Team.

Live, love, basketball

Isaacson’s passion for basketball started when she was young. She said basketball has always been part of her life.

Isaacson said, “My dad played collegiate basketball and has a huge love for the game, so he would take me out in the backyard and shoot hoops.”

This was the start of her passion. She developed her skills at a young age and continuously played the sport as she grew older.

Although she played and participated in many other sports growing up, basketball was the sport she gravitated towards and ended up loving the most.

Isaacson carried her passion throughout her years at Box Elder High School and is still improving her game currently at DSU. One of her biggest motivating factors with being successful in basketball starts with her love for the sport.

“I have a lot of fun playing the sport, and I enjoy all the aspects and challenges that it presents,” Isaacson said. “I love the challenge of being the best I can be and continually bettering myself.”

Breaunna Gillen, a junior biology major from West Jordan has played with Isaacson on the DSU Women’s Basketball team for two years. Gillen has noticed the leadership mentality that Isaacson continues to bring to the team.

“Isaacson leads by example, not instruction,” Gillen said. “She never tells anyone to do something, unless she has already done it herself.”

DSU Women’s Basketball Head Coach, JD Gustin, respects the way Isaacson takes her passion for the sport seriously. Isaacson is a loyal player the coaches and other teammates can count on.

“She deserves the award for the way she represents our department, institution and community,” Gustin said. “She goes above and beyond in her overall work ethic, dedication to her goals and ability to treat others respectfully.”

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