The SAU Buzz

Issue date: 3/4/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Submitted Clark also has season and game records for 3-pointers made.

Media Credit: Submitted Dolphin, only a junior, still has a season to play as a Queen Bee.

They've done it again. Senior Jenny Clark and junior Ali Dolphin are in the record books for St. Ambrose, and like their 1,000 career points last season, they've done this together, too. Dolphin and Clark are now the exclusive members of a new club - the 1,500 career points and 400 career assists club.
Neither Dolphin nor Clark knew they were approaching the unique milestone. They learned of the record on Feb. 6 after a win over Viterbo on the road. Head coach Nathan Altenhofen did the honors.
"First of all, I didn't even think they kept track of points and assists together, so I think both of us were really surprised," Dolphin said "Coach told us after the Viterbo game in the locker room and we were both just kind of stunned, I guess. Surprised."
"It was a huge honor and it wasn't something that I initially thought was going to be a statistic, but for Coach to recognize that, it was really an honor.," Clark said.
Clark reached the assist mark against Fresno Pacific on Dec. 19, then the point total against Waldorf on Jan. 30. Dolphin matched the assist mark against Iowa Wesleyan on Feb. 3, then the points total at Viterbo on Feb. 6. And while the two stats might seem strangely linked together, in this system, it makes perfect sense.
"Coach Nate's system definitely gets the best out of every player," Clark said. "I think that there's a lot of players on this team that have peaked talent-wise because of this system. I think they get a lot out of the system, I think me and Ali have as well. The way we play basketball fast tempo, the other teams we play have to pick and choose what they want to guard."
Guard Dolphin, and Clark's spotting up for three. Guard Clark and Dolphin's splitting the lane and laying it in off the glass. It's a double threat built on unselfish play.
"Coach Nate is always harping on unselfishness, so I think that's where the assists statistic comes into play," Dolphin said. "I think it's really easy to get that accomplishment - both Jenny and I - just because we work so well together. I would really like to see how many of my 400 or so assists actually went to Jenny."
Even with all the talent that has come through SAU basketball, Dolphin and Clark are the only Queen Bees to ever put up such great numbers in both categories. Their balance on the floor makes them a duo that no one wants to face.
"I feel like we almost have the same mind sometimes on the basketball floor," Clark said. "I know exactly when [Ali's] going to cut, I know if she's going to pass me the ball. I feel like we just know exactly what one another's going to do and that's what experience playing together does."
Dolphin agrees.
"I think playing with her the past three years, getting to know her has really helped a lot," she said. "We've been really close. Next year I don't even know what I'm going to do without her."
Surprised that no one had reached this mark before them, both Dolphin and Clark credit Coach Nate and his system for the achievement. If the system continues to work, Coach Nate may just have more record setters on his hands in similar categories.
"I think there have been a lot of players so far that have already accomplished more than they ever expected in they're college careers," Clark said. "Ali has a year left and she's going to accomplish a lot more in this next year, but [Coach] is going to bring in some more talented players and I think there's going to be opportunity for them as well."
But for now, it's just the two of them. Dolphin and Clark, side-by-side in Queen Bee history.
"My initial thought was how special is it to happen with me and Ali again," Clark said.
"It's amazing," Dolphin said. "And to know that my name is going to be right next to Jenny's is always going to be a great feeling."

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