ABC’s of Lady T Basketball

     Let’s play a game. It is called, “Everything I need to be a Lady T.” To play this game it is important to go through the ABC’s of basketball and make sure the Lady T’s have all the necessary components:  Attitude, Basketballs, Confidence, Determination, Effort, Free-throws, Games, Hard-work, Intensity, a Jump-shot, strong Knees, Love of the game, Maturity, basketball Nets, Opponents, Pride, Quickness, Respect, Sacrifice, Three-pointers, Uniforms, Versatility, Wins, eXtreme defensive tenacity, Yearning, and Zeal. Hmm. It looks like the Lady T’s have everything they will need but, there does seem to be something missing.

     That something missing is Ashley Anderson and Tara Palmquist. These two athletes have come to the Dakota State University Women’s basketball program after successful high school careers. They have not only heard about the ABC’s of basketball, they have lived them.

     Ashley Anderson comes to Dakota State University from Canton, SD. She is the daughter of John and Peg Anderson. As a high school athlete, Ashley averaged 12 ppg, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists a game. Her peers also recognized her as their Most Valuable Player. She holds the Canton record for most points and most rebounds. As a sophomore, junior and senior, Ashley was voted All-Conference. Her junior and senior year she was voted All-Region.

     Not only was Ashley an active basketball player, she was also an active student. She was a member of the National Honor Society, class president and on the honor roll. Ashley plans on majoring in Elementary Education at Dakota State.

     Tara Palmquist, a Madison, S.D. native, will add perimeter shooting and solid defense to the Lady T arsenal. She is the daughter of Roland and Nancy Palmquist. Throughout Tara’s high school career she has been involved in basketball, volleyball and track and field for 4 years. As a basketball athlete and three-year letter winner, Tara was an All Big-Eight Conference Player, Academic All-State, and an Alternate for the South Dakota All-Star game. Tara’s teammates voted her Best Offensive Player, Most Dependable, Tough Dog and MVP. She also holds the records for most three pointers in a game (8) and in a season (40). As a senior, Tara averaged 12 ppg, 4.2 rebounds and 2 assists a game.

     Tara’s volleyball honors include All-Big Eight Conference Player, Academic All-State, and two time Athlete of the week. While Tara was a Madison Bulldog volleyball athlete they were Region 2A and District 4A champs, and they finished third in the 1999 State Tournament. As a track athlete Tara and the Bulldogs finished first place, combined girls and boys, at the state track meet. Individually Tara finished 8^th in pole vault at the girls state track meet in 1998 and 4^th in the Region 2A pole vault in 1999.

     In the classroom, Tara has been involved with the M-club and the National Honor Society for two years. She is has also been actively involved with her church youth group for seven years.

     The Lady T’s know that the ABC’s of basketball can be tough and very challenging at times. With the help of Ashley and Tara, they plan to rewrite the ABC’s of basketball.

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