BIG SKY PRESS RELEASE
North Dakota women’s basketball coach Travis Brewster has a coaching style that conditions teams to be tough.
His style demands work ethic and instills toughness that can help young people through rough stretches. Midway through the non-conference schedule of the 2016-17 season, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks were caught in the midst of one of those rough patches, with a record of 4-7 after a December 18 loss at Northern Iowa, 74-53.
The toughness and resilience of the Fighting Hawks helped guide them to a road win over San Diego in their following game, a 16-2 record from there on out, and a top-two seed in the 2017 Big Sky Women’s Basketball Championship. For his success in leading the Fighting Hawks through a variety of challenges, Brewster was selected by his peers as the 2016-17 Big Sky Conference Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year.
Brewster, who earned the league’s 2014 coach of the year award, has compiled a record of 89-66 at North Dakota, as he currently sits towards the end of his fifth year at the helm. The coach, who played collegiately at Charleston Southern before embarking on an international career, was a longtime assistant for former UND coach Gene Roebuck. Brewster also worked as an assistant at South Dakota State and Iowa Lakes Community College.
This season is shaping up to be the best season for the Fighting Hawks since the 2013-14 season, when UND clinched the Big Sky’s regular season and tournament titles. North Dakota would advance to the NCAA tournament, thanks to a 72-55 win over longtime power Montana in the championship game. UND would fall to Texas A&M, 70-55, in the opening round of the tournament.
Several North Dakota players have earned conference honors under Brewster’s tenure, and this season was no different. The Fighting Hawks were recognized for several conference awards, placing two players on the Big Sky all-conference list. UND senior Makailah Dyer was one of two players to be a unanimous selection to the first team, while Lexi Klabo made the second team. Additionally, Fallyn Freije made the honorable mention list.
Press release written by Big Sky communications director Jon Oglesby.
