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Kia Herbel Named to 1st team NAIA All-American Team
Dickinson State’s that Kia Herbel, a junior from New Town, N.D., has been named to the 2009 NAIA Division II Women's Basketball All-America team. Herbel was selected to the 1st team by the All-America committee and she becomes the first Dickinson State player to be honored.
In 2008-09, the Blue Hawks claimed the Dakota Athletic Conference Championship, the DAC Tournament Championship, advanced to the “Elite Eight” of the NAIA National Tournament and finished the season with a 26-7 record.
Herbel was also named the 2009 DAC Most Valuable Player and she was a 2nd team NAIA All-Tournament selection.
Herbel set new single-season school records for field goal percentage (183-of-289, 63.3%), free throws made (135) and rebounds (313, 9.8 rpg). She averaged 15.7 points per game and was held to single digits in scoring just four times in 32 games, but all of those games were Hawk victories. She also converted 135 of her 191 (70.7%) free throw attempts and had 29 blocked shots and 28 steals.
As a team, the Blue Hawks' 26 wins this year set a new school record for victories. Dickinson State's Charmed Season Ends at Elite Eight
Dickinson State made a wonderful run in 2008-09, but it finally came to an end. The Hawks won their first two games in the NAIA National Tournament and found themselves among the “Elite Eight”. A strong second half by College of the Ozarks erased a two-point Blue Hawk advantage en route to a 69-56 win and thus ended the dream for DSU.
In their first game against Ohio Dominican, the Blue Hawks grabbed a 35-18 lead at the half, sprinted out of the locker room to a 43-18 lead and then coasted to a 77-44 win. DSU shot 52% in both halves (15-of-29 and then 14-of-27), collected 18 assists and out-rebounded the Panthers, 42-28. Kia Herbel led the team with 22 points on nine-of-nine shooting and Kelsey Boedeker added another 20 and a game-leading seven assists.
In their second game, every bit of a 15-point first half lead against Concordia University (Ore.) was needed. The Hawks could score just 16 points after the break but fortunately the Cavaliers’ offense also sputtered for much of the game. CU made just 18-of-63 (29%) of their field goals and could make the game interesting by tightening-up the scoreboard, but still DSU prevailed, 58-55. Herbel’s 13 points and 15 rebounds paced the Blue Hawks. Ashley Emmons had six steals and Juanita Newsom pulled in 10 rebounds. Help from the bench came courtesy of Mindy Vanderpan who scored nine points and Krystal Burns who chipped in with seven. The Cavs trailed by 21 points midway in the second half before their offense surged and sliced the Hawks’ margin to just one point. Finally, with 9.6 seconds remaining, Kelly Pankratz nailed two free throws forcing CU to attempt a three-pointer. The shot by Maryam Razavi hit the rim but was otherwise harmless and the overtime hope was eliminated along with a courageous Cavalier team. DSU was held to just 16 percent field goal shooting in the second half, connecting on just 4-of-25 attempts from the field, and none of these successes came in the last 10 minutes of action.
It was a fine season for Dickinson State, who was projected to be mid-pack in the conference but exceeded all expectations. They won the DAC, the DAC tournament and also set a new school record for wins (26) while making it to their second “Elite Eight” appearance. Hawks Tip Off at Noon Thursday Versus Ohio Dominican
The wait is over. The Blue Hawks found out this morning that they will be facing Ohio Dominican in the first round of the NAIA National Championships. The Blue Hawks earned a #2 seed in their respective bracket and Ohio Dominican received a #7 seed. The Hawks and Panthers will square off on Thursday at Noon (central time) at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. You can watch the game live by logging onto www.naia.org or by listening live to Rod Kleinjan on 1230 KDIX. For More Info. call (701)-483-2710 |
