PacWest Freshman of Year, Division I guard both transfer to Dixie State women’s hoops program

Taylor Mann

ST. GEORGE – Transfer players in college sports are unique. Coaches aren’t allowed to recruit from other teams, but if a player comes to a coach looking for a new place to play, no matter the reason, most coaches would be crazy to say no.

Dixie State women’s basketball coach Angie Kristensen recently said yes to a pair of talented players who will likely have a major impact on the program in the future.

Joining the Red Storm are Nanea Woods, a guard most recently from San Jose State, and Taylor Mann, the reigning Pacific West Conference Freshman of the Year and center previously from BYU-Hawaii. Woods will be eligible to play for Dixie State this season, while Mann will use a redshirt year due to transferring from another PacWest school.

“This finalizes our roster for the upcoming season and we couldn’t be more excited for Dixie State women’s Basketball,” Kristensen said.

Nanea Woods

Woods, a 5-foot-9 guard from Portland, Ore., made 22 appearances off the bench for the Spartans over the last two seasons. She scored a career-best four points against Boise State during her freshman year. A 2010 graduate of St. Mary’s Academy in Portland, Woods was a four-time winner of the team’s Defensive Player of the Year. She earned an honorable mention in the Mount Hood Conference as a senior when she led the team in rebounds and steals. Woods also lettered in track competing in the 100 meters and 4×100 meter relay in the Junior Olympics.

“We are very excited that Nanea decided to further her education at Dixie State,” Christensen said. “Nanea comes from an outstanding high school program – one that I respect very much.  Every single one of our Division I transfers come to Dixie State and have been impact players.  I don’t see Nanea being any different. She is extremely athletic who will be able to defend anyone on the court.  Kids who transfer just want the opportunity to play, and they are able to do that here and end up leaving as impact players. We look forward to giving her that opportunity.”

Mann, a 6-foot-2 center from Castle Dale, Utah, made a tremendous splash in one year at BYU-Hawaii. She averaged 10.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season. She finished fifth in the PacWest in rebounding and second in blocked shots with 2.0 per game.  Her 53 blocked shots set a new BYU-Hawaii record for women’s basketball, as did her nine blocked shots (vs. Lewis) in a single game. Mann netted a season-high 24 points against California Baptist. She was the Utah 3A State Tournament MVP in 2011, leading her Emery High team to the state title.

“Obviously we know that Taylor will have to redshirt this upcoming season, but I couldn’t ask for a better practice player,” Kristensen said. “There was a reason she was voted Freshman of the Year in the PacWest. She hurt us both times we played her and in my opinion will push my centers every day in practice. That is what I look for every day out of all our kids. Taylor isn’t just a typical post player; she has many dimensions. I love the fact she can step out and hit the three, which will makes her tough to guard. We graduate both Becca (Thomas) and Mandy (Munns) this next year so Taylor will have a year to learn our system and be able to step right in. She is a perfect fit for us.”

Woods and Mann join a talented signing class that includes guards Jordan Giles, Megan Hatt, Shannon Gough, forward Jaymee Brugman and center Mandy Munns.

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Twitter: @oldschoolag

Copyright 2012 St. George News.

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