Portal Corner, ACU Staff Change, Dynamic Duo Returns in Cedar City
Portal Corner, ACU Staff Change, Dynamic Duo Returns in Cedar City
This week in the WAC Hoops Nation women's basketball newsletter we have some portal updates, a staff change at ACU, and a pair of Thunderbirds announcing they'll return for one last go around
It’s time for another WAC Hoops Nation offseason women’s basketball newsletter.
The defending champs have their first portal entry and three Wildcats announce their new homes are among the headlines this week.
Portal Corner
On Monday, April 22, Shereka Wright and UT Arlington picked up a nice commit in a former WAC player.
Former ACU guard Aspen Thornton, who announced she was entering the transfer portal in February, is moving about two hours East to join the Lady Mavs.
In 2023-24, Thornton played in 17 games, averaging 11.9 points per game while shooting just under 39 percent from the field (30.4 percent from 3-point range). Thornton will join Taliyah Clark in forming one of the WAC’s more proficient pair of 3-point shooters.
On Wednesday, April 24, it was announced that CBU’s Kinsley Barrington entered the portal as a grad transfer. Barrington averaged 11 points per game and 5.3 rebounds as the Lancers won their second regular season and tournament titles in a four-year span.
Utah Tech, on Wednesday, also announced the signing of Mattie Olson who transfers over from Montana State. Olson appeared in seven games in 2022-23 for the Bobcats while not making an appearance in 2023-24.
Addison Martin announced she is transferring from ACU to Illinois State of the Missouri Valley Conference.
Martin appeared in 25 games last year, averaging 11.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting just under 45 percent from the field. The Redbirds were 13-7 in MVC play last year, reaching their tournament quarterfinal. They also won a game in the WNIT. Former ACU assistant Drew Cole is on the Redbirds staff.
GCU had this week’s biggest signing in Alyssa Durazo-Frescas from UNLV. Durazo-Frescas shot 44 percent from 3-point range (72/162) for a Runnin’ Rebel team that won the Mountain West, and also received AP Top-25 votes. She is the second UNLV player to move to GCU after Nmeka Obiazor joined the Lopes last year.
CBU’s Ned Named Head Coach at Cal State Northridge:
Every head coaches goal is to prepare their assistants to run their own programs one day.
Last year Julie Goodenough at ACU lost two of her assistants as they became first-time head coaches.
On April 29, it was announced by Cal State Northridge Athletic Director Shaun Chin-Farrell that CBU Associate Head Coach Angie Ned has agreed to become the next Matadors head coach.
Ned takes over a program that went just 3-27 overall last year and 1-19 in the Big West. Cal State Northridge currently has eight players from last year’s roster in the portal.
She’ll replace Carlene Mitchell, who went 19-70 overall in three years and 7-45 against the Big West.
Ned is also the second Jarrod Olson assistant to take over their own program in the last five years. Jessica Case took over the Hope International (NAIA) program in 2022 and has gone 35-19 overall, 19-13 in GSAC play in two years.
"Angie Ned is a first-class coach, person, and role model. She has played a large part in our success over the past 10 years," said CBU Head Coach Jarrod Olson in a CBU release. "We will miss her competitive fire and her unwavering integrity, and I will miss coaching with her and seeing her every day. On behalf of our fans, staff, and players, thank you for making us better. We are all very proud of you."
As a player, Ned played at UC Irvine, earning three First Team All-Big West selections, and a pair of All-Defensive Team selections.
ACU Elevates Graham to Director of Ops:
Last Wednesday seemed to be the busy news day as ACU head coach Julie Goodenough also announced Malone Graham’s promotion to Director of Operations. Graham spent this past season as a grad assistant on the Abilene Christian staff.
Before ACU, Graham was the sports director at KTXT-FM, Texas Tech’s student radio station. She was also a sports producer at Double T 97.3 FM in Lubbock where she served as color analyst on the station’s coverage of Frenship High School basketball games.
While at Texas Tech, Graham was also a student-assistant on the Lady Raiders staff.
Pair of Thunderbirds Announce They’re Back for 2024-2025:
There’s no doubt that last year was a disappointing campaign for the Southern Utah women’s basketball team, coming off WAC regular season and tournament titles.
On Wednesday, April 24, Tracy Mason and the T-Birds received some big news.
It was announced that Daylani Ballena and Samantha Johnston will both return to Cedar City.
In a Southern Utah release, Thunderbirds head coach Tracy Mason said…
"I am thrilled that Dayla and Sam will be returning for their fifth year.”
“Dayla is a special player that is going to leave a real legacy here, someone that will make her mark in the record book forever. I know she is extremely motivated to make her last year the best yet.”
Ballena was a second team All WAC selection, averaging 15.4 points and 3.6 assists per game a season ago. She was fifth in scoring, ninth in assists, and 10th in free throw percentage at just under 66 percent.
Johnston averaged 10.1 points, 3.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game a season ago. She finished 11th in assists, seventh in blocks, and third in made 3-pointers with 73.
“Sam has been such a key piece to building this program both on and off the court. She wants to win and wants to leave behind a tradition of greatness here. I'm so grateful I've had the opportunity to coach these two for four years, and I know they will be ready for year five."
Southern Utah was 8-22 a year ago and 6-14 in WAC play, needing a win on the final day of the regular season to qualify for tournament play. They fell to UT Arlington in the first round.