For the first time ever, the Colorado Mesa Mavericks have reached the Division II national semifinals in college women’s basketball, and two Alaskans are riding the wave.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - For the first time ever, the Colorado Mesa Mavericks have reached the Division II national semifinals in college women’s basketball, and are doing so with a decidedly Alaskan flavor.
Clark, a freshman guard, has played a prominent role on the team, starting all 38 games so far while averaging 8.1 points and 2.4 assists per game with .366 shooting from the floor. Clark is fourth in scoring for the Mavericks. Her play has helped contribute to a 34-game win streak en route to a 37-1 record for Colorado Mesa, including postseason play. “I think she’s really opened a lot of eyes to prove that high-level basketball can happen at the DII level,” said her mother, Jess. “And if you choose right, you can be part of something big.” Colorado Mesa has gotten to the Final Four in the 64-team tournament that sees teams reseeded for the quarterfinals. To get to the semifinals, the No. 3 seed Mavericks had to beat Lubbock Christian 80-45, UT Tyler 62-58, and top-seeded Texas Woman’s 65-64 in their region. In their tournament quarterfinal game against Minnesota Duluth, the Mavericks throttled the Bulldogs 81-59. Clark chipped in five points, five rebounds, and four assists in the victory to help advance Colorado Mesa to a national semifinal clash with Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. Alaska time Thursday. “It’s crazy to think that I’m in the Final Four tomorrow,” Clark said Wednesday in an interview with Alaska’s News Source. “Like, it’s still wild to me. I’ve just been taking mental snapshots of just everything, because it’s so cool.” The Mavericks’ season has been one of success. Their only loss came early in the season, back in November, an 85-70 loss to West Texas A&M. Clark says early-season play felt a bit disjointed as they worked to find the right chemistry and balance between the players on the floor.“All of a sudden, it just clicked, and we’ve been on a roll, and it’s been so fun,” Clark said. Clark’s mother and father — Jess and Travis — said in an interview Wednesday that they have been encouraging their daughter to soak in the moment while she still can. “We keep encouraging her to take mental snapshots and just feel what it’s like, but understand that she was created for this — for such a time as this," Jess said. “She’s a pretty humble kid,” Travis said. “And it’s just been awesome for her to represent Alaska and the Valley. Really proud of her.” It’s a far cry from her days as a kid, when Jess said Hallie was all about the “princess dresses, dance, gymnastics — all the things." “Her thing was, ‘No, I don’t want to get hurt,’” Jess recalled. “Finally in first grade, she decided she wanted to do it, and I think she did more cartwheels up and down the court than she actually did basketball.”her senior year, when she averaged 25.2 points per game, leading the Knights to a 20-4 regular season record and a conference tournament championship. Being from Alaska has given Clark a different perspective than many of her teammates from the Lower 48.“I know I have so many people from back home just texting me, wishing me good luck,” Clark said. “And having that support really means a lot.”“Let’s go get that national championship.”Two killed in ‘confined space’ aboard tug boat near Ketchikan, Coast Guard reports ‘Every fiber of me wishes I could change it all’: Veteran musher posts tribute to dog who died during IditarodTwo dogs run the Iditarod together — one dies: Veteran musher DeeDee Jonrowe speaks about bond fellow musher had with her team‘They have bonded together forever’: Kenai all-girls hockey squad wins co-ed state tournament
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