Former Herd Guard Wins Second Gold at Deaflympics

5/5/2005

Former Marshall star Ida Dotson, No. 5, averaged 11.6 points per game to lead Team USA to its third straight Deaflympics gold medal.

In likely her last game of competitive basketball, former Marshall University standout Ida Dotson helped guide Team USA to its third straight gold medal at the 2005 Deaflympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, in January. The Deaflympics are held every four years for deaf athletes from over 75 nations.

Dotson, 25, was Team USA’s second-leading scorer in Melbourne with an 11.6 points per game average, good enough for 11th best overall in the tournament. Her 62.8 percent shooting percentage was second best behind Japan’s Yuka Sasaki (64.3 percent). She also contributed 3.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds per contest.

The Tombstone, Ariz., native played for two years with the Thundering Herd after transferring to Marshall from Central Arizona C.C. She is a two-time gold medalist after having won the title in 2001 in Rome as USA’s leading scorer, only months before her first season at MU.

“It felt great that we won the gold medal again,” Dotson, a guard, said. “I am glad that we got to represent the US.”

Dotson’s high point total from the ’05 Deaflympics came in the team’s most important game, the gold medal match versus Sweden. She poured in 16 points by going 7-for-15 from the floor in leading USA to an 89-75 decision on Jan. 15.

“I think the 2005 games are the best ones yet,” Dotson said. “Everyone gave us a lot of respect in Australia…it made us feel so special.”

The Americans and Swedes have met in the last three gold medal finals.

With her playing days now behind her, Dotson hopes that the game of basketball will remain a high priority in her life. Her accomplishments on the floor may lead to a career on the bench as she says that she’d like to one day enter the coaching ranks.

With a championship-heavy resume in hand, complete with having served as a building block to Marshall basketball’s current winning ways, Dotson may have what it takes to lead future players to success on and off the floor.