STARKVILLE — “Inconsistent at best.”
That’s how Mississippi State women’s basketball Vic Schaefer described the shooting form of Dominique Dillingham in the 2013-14 season.
A year ago, Dillingham emerged as a tough, freshman guard who was tough to keep off the floor because she rebounded, defended, took charges, and wasn’t afraid to take big shots. Dillingham had one of the best games of any Bulldog when she scored a season-high 21 points, grabbed six rebounds, had four assists, and made two steals in a victory against Missouri.
But after going 6 of 16 from the field in that win, Dillingham didn’t hit more than three field goals in a game in MSU’s final 15 games and shot 19 of 76 (19.7 percent) in that span. As a result, Dillingham’s shooting percentage for the season dropped to 32 percent even though she averaged 8.8 points per game, which was fourth on the team.
Dillingham hopes to improve that shooting stroke this year to build on an otherwise solid freshman campaign. She will begin that process at 6 tonight when she and her teammates take part in a Maroon-White Scrimmage at Humphrey Coliseum.
“I have to get in the gym and being more consistent and taking that extra 30 minutes a day (working on her shot),” Dillingham said. “It is difficult because we have school, study hall, we have to eat, and you have to study on your own. You also have to balance your personal life with it.
“If I am hustling or rebounding, (her shooting) will come. I don’t have to rush it. It will come to me.”
Dillingham said she shot with two hands when she was 4 years old because she was smaller. As a result, her form isn’t something you would see in a textbook or on an instructional video. After catching a pass, Dillingham’s hands come apart over her head on the release like she is throwing a chest pass. The inconsistent part of Dillingham’s stroke is that her right hand sometimes comes forward and extends out in more of a traditional follow-through. Other times, though, she hesitates with her motion and her right hand doesn’t give a “wave,” or a flick, when the ball is released.
Dillingham said her shooting performance at the end of last season was more “tired” and “inconsistent” than it should have been. She said she worked hard in the offseason to come back in better condition so she will be able to play more than the 27.9 minutes she averaged last season. She hopes to deliver better production — and more consistent shooting — in those minutes to help MSU improve on a 22-14 season in which it advanced to the quarterfinals of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. The team returns nearly 90 percent of its offense, including Preseason All-Southeastern Conference selection Martha Alwal, who averaged 14.9 points and 8.8 rebounds last season.
Schaefer said his fight with Dillingham and with several other players on the team is to get them into the gym so they can shoot on their own because there isn’t enough time in a practice for them to get shots up. Given that Dillingham and other Bulldogs are motivated to do well in school, it makes it tough to find 30-45 minutes of individual time to work on her shooting. But Schaefer said the Dillingham has to develop more consistency in her shot so she is even more indispensable.
“The thing that is keeping Dominique from being first-team All-SEC is her shot, her stroke,” Schaefer said. “She is my crowd favorite because she plays her guts out, she is on the floor, she is not scared, she is a tough-physical, aggressive kid who has a great personality. Her shooting stroke is what is keeping her from being first-team All-SEC, and from playing a long time, because she does a lot of things a lot of student-athletes won’t do, guy or girl. They don’t have that toughness or that competitiveness about them.”
Schedule for Hail State Hoops luncheons announced
With another season back, a new slate of Hail State Hoops luncheons will begin Thursday, Nov. 13.
The luncheon series, which will be in Mize Pavilion, includes a meal, guest speaker and hoops talk with coach Vic Schaefer, the staff and players.
Doors open at 11:15 a.m., with the luncheon beginning at 11:30.
Cost per luncheon is $12, but fans can sign up for all seven luncheons for a discounted price of $70.
Fans who RSVP by phone at 662-325-0198 or email ([email protected]) will be registered for the chance to win women’s basketball door prizes.
The first luncheon will review practice and the Nov. 9 exhibition game and preview the season opener against Mercer at 8 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Preseason WNIT.
Fans can watch team Saturday
In addition to the Maroon-White scrimmage tonight at Humphrey Coliseum, fans will be able to watch MSU practice at 10 a.m. Saturday. Following the workout, fans can enjoy the Mississippi State campus before heading to Davis Wade Stadium to watch the top-ranked Bulldog football team take on Arkansas at 6:15 p.m.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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