Pierre looks to defend her All-MVC honor

By Thomas Donley

Rarely is there ever a bright spot on a team with a winning percentage that more resembles a poor batting average.

For the 2013-2014 SIU women’s basketball team, forward/center Dyana Pierre was a bright spot in a murky 5-26 campaign. As a sophomore last year, Pierre became the first Saluki women’s basketball player in seven years to be named first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference. She did so when the Salukis mustered a .161 winning percentage.

Pierre said she was glad she could bring positive attention to SIU women’s basketball during a down season.

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“It means a lot,” Pierre said. “I like to put our team out there and let everybody know that we will become something.”

Coach Cindy Stein said the honor is an indication of the impact Pierre has made.

“I think that says a lot about just how well-respected she is throughout the conference,” Stein said. “She made a name for herself.”

A force to be reckoned with in the low post, Pierre led the MVC with 12 double-doubles, 9.6 rebounds and 4.2 offensive rebounds per game. She had 14 games with 10 or more rebounds.

Pierre led the Salukis in scoring, blocks, free throws, field-goal percentage and minutes en route to claiming SIU’s first first team All-MVC honor since Carlai Moore in 2007. Pierre’s 44 blocks last season were third-most in Saluki history.

Pierre was also named MVC Player of the Week on March 3 after averaging 25 points and 16.5 rebounds per game against Missouri State and Wichita State.

To call Pierre’s sophomore season a breakthrough would be misleading—she was the first freshman in 12 years to lead the MVC in rebounding and her 36 blocks are now fourth-most in Saluki history.

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Pierre was also named MVC Player of the Week on March 3 after averaging 25.0 points and 16.5 rebounds per game against Missouri State and Wichita State.

To call Pierre’s sophomore season a breakthrough would be misleading – she was the first freshman in 12 years to lead the MVC in rebounding and her 36 blocks are now fourth-most in Saluki history.

Junior guard Cartaesha Macklin said Pierre improves the team’s play when she is on the floor by drawing attention from perimeter players.

“We definitely need to utilize her,” Macklin said. “It takes the pressure off the guards, and she do what she do. It’s impressive to me.”

Known by her teammates as “Dirty,” Pierre has worked to improve her all-around game this year, spending time on both her post moves and facing up to the basket. She said her all-conference honor motivates her to work hard, but she would work just as hard if she had not received it.

Pierre can also expect an improvement in her supporting cast this winter, as Rishonda Napier, Alexus Patterson and Macklin will return from taking redshirts last season.

“I expect us to be really really good,” Pierre said. “Because in practice we’re working hard. We’re vocal. We’re learning. Coach Stein is getting on us about every little thing, and I think that will transfer to the court.”

Along with her post game, Pierre is developing as a leader for the Salukis.

“I think she leads by example,” Stein said. “She’s probably getting more vocal this year.”

Pierre said she came to SIU from Port St. Lucie, Fla., determined to be named MVC Freshman of the Year. A torn ACL and a subsequent medical redshirt derailed those plans, but now that she has collected her personal recognition, she has her sights on a conference championship.

“I feel like it’s more valuable,” Pierre said. “We want a ring. The seniors want a ring before they leave. I want a ring before I leave.”

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