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Inside Perspective - Dolapo Balogun
Meet the Newcomers - Dolapo Balogun
2019-20 (GRAD STUDENT): Revolutionized her game in the final year of her career, transferring to The Hilltop to become an important leader, sixth man and shooter for the Dons ... Played in all 31 games with 14 starts, including starting 14 of the Dons' first 15 games ... After never attempting a 3-pointer in the first three years of her career, she made 25 of them (3rd on team) while shooting 31.6% from deep ... Also had a career-high 35 assists (5th on team) and 21 steals (6th on team) on the year while playing mostly at the 2 and 3 positions on the floor after being a forward (4 or 5) for most of her career ... Made at least one 3-pointer in 18 games, including a season-high four in the Dons' 79-61 win over CSUN (Nov. 16) ... Hit a game-tying 3-pointer with four minutes left in the game, then hit back-to-back free throws with 17 seconds left at Pacific to help USF erase a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit and come from behind to win (Feb. 27) ... Nearly had her first career double-double with nine points and a career-high 10 rebounds in the Dons' comeback win over Sacramento State (Dec. 14) ... Tied her career high with 16 points at Pepperdine (Jan. 11).
PRIOR TO USF: Balogun spent four seasons at Southeast Missouri State, including a redshirt year in 2017-18 ... She was a key veteran presence for the Redhawks' lineup in 2018-19, starting 14 games and making 29 appearances ... She averaged 3.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game while shooting 45.9% from the floor, third on the team. She also tallied 19 assists, 10 steals and four blocks during the year ... During her time at Southeast Missouri State, she played in nearly 70 games, made 16 starts and scored more than 170 points.
Balogun was dominant during her prep career. She scored 647 points and grabbed 551 rebounds for Roselle Catholic High School and was part of a team that recorded the most wins in program history and set a school record with a 21-game winning streak to begin her senior season ... During her senior year of 2014-15, she averaged 10.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. As a junior, she averaged 10.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals per contest. A multi-sport athlete, she also lettered in cross country and track and field, where she threw the shot.
Balogun has been the epitome as a student-athlete, as along with her successes on the court, she was a four-time scholar-athlete and first academic honors selection in high school ... She was also a member of the Principals List, National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society ... While at Southeast Missouri State, she was twice named to the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.
