Dixie State women's basketball team upsets Division I Utah State in opener

By Dixie State Sports Information

LOGAN, UT - Sheila Adams had 22 points and Johnna Brown’s 15 points and school record 18 rebounds led the Division II Dixie State College women’s basketball to a 71-67 upset over Division I Utah State University at the Dee Glenn Smith Spectrum today.

Despite trailing 19-2 with 11:05 left in the first half, the Red Storm would battle back and cut the Aggies lead to 27-23 with 27 seconds on a Veronica Siqueiros three-pointer. Utah State’s Pringle-Buchanan would hit a three-pointer with 11 seconds left in the first half to take a 30-23 advantage into the locker room.

Coach Angie Kristensen said, “For us to be down 19 points and comeback and beat a D1 team on their home court speaks volumes about the caliber of team we have.”

Early foul trouble to post player Erica Carlson and poor shooting plagued the Red Storm. DSC shot 9-24 from the field and only 2-11 from three-point range. “Bre (Breann Hill) and Erica were in foul trouble all night and so other people we forced to step up,” said Coach Kristensen. They also had a hard time taking care of the basketball committing 17 of their game total 30 turnovers in the first frame.

Coach Kristensen added, “We turned the ball over way to much but overall I am proud of the start of our season.”

Dixie State opened the second half with a 9-0 run paced by a two three pointers by Adams giving the Red Storm a 34-30 lead with 17:55 left. Kristensen added “Sheila Adams hit some huge three-pointers down the stretch.” A tie with 7:47 left in the game would be the only time USU would get square with the Red Storm.

Late in the game the Red Storm would look to returner Johnna Brown to give the stability in needed to hold on to the lead late. Leading 67-58 with 43 seconds left, two three-pointers cut the DSC lead to 2 points with 27 seconds left.  The Aggies were forced to foul and send Adams and Brown to the line. Adams would hit four consecutive to end the game and avoid the late surge of Utah State.

Dixie State would win the rebounding war 46-34. Brown’s school-record of 18 rebounds helped them in the upset.  Coach Kristensen said, ”Johnna Brown played one of the her best games in a Dixie State uniform.”

The Red Storm shot 54.2 (22-48) percent from the field and 38.1 (8-21) percent from three-point range. Chanel Maxey finished with 10 points.

The Aggies finished shooting 38.8 (26-67) percent from the floor and 33.3 (6-18) percent from behind the arc. Christensen’s 13 points led USU, Amber White had 12 points and Pringle-Buchanan had 11 points.

This marked the third consecutive win over a Division I program. The first two were exhibition wins over Utah Valley on Oct 30th and the second a Nov 5th victory over Southern Utah.

Dixie State travels to play in the Western Oregon Tournament next week. The Red Storm open the tournament on Friday night at 5:00 PM against host school Western Oregon and then play Saint Martin’s Saturday at 1:00 PM.