As the Stags prepare themselves for the upcoming Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament play, they are already looking forward to improving their team next season. The women’s basketball team has just welcomed Khadidiatou “Dija” Diouf ‘18, a transfer athlete from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
Diouf, a 6-foot-3-inch center, came to Fairfield in hopes of a smaller community and more experience on the court.
“After my first couple of months at IUPUI, I realized that Fairfield was a better fit for me,” said Diouf. “I loved the coaches, the team and the girls were really nice. And it was a better school because I am trying to pursue a career in medicine.”
Diouf was able to make her mark in high school, where she played for Lake Forest Academy. But before high school, Diouf played in Senegal and decided to come play the game in the United States through the Grow the Game Campaign, a sports and education program in Senegal. According to an article on fairfieldstags.com, “the program gives Senegalese teenagers the opportunity to play in the United States.”
When she traveled to the United States and began playing for Lake Forest Academy, she averaged 12 points and nine rebounds per game during her junior year. However, during her time with the IUPUI Jaguars, Diouf did not receive any playing time. Now at Fairfield, Diouf hopes that she will be able to get back to the court that she loves most. For the remainder of this season, Diouf will have to sit out due to National Collegiate Athletic Association transfer regulations, but she is already looking forward to her playing time next season.
“It is really hard sitting out as a player because I’ve always want to get out there and play,” said Diouf, “but I’m taking it as a positive and working on my game and pushing my teammates on the court so that I can play my best and contribute to the team next season.”
Already adjusted to the team, Diouf is excited about her career with the Stags. She added that her teammates have welcomed her extremely well, despite transferring in the middle of the season.
“The coaches have been phenomenal, I haven’t felt homesick or left out at all,” said Diouf. “I’m really happy that even though I came at a random time in the middle of the season, they’ve really welcomed me.”
Diouf will be expected to bring a lot of talent to the court next season. The three-season athlete in high school has skill in a number of different areas that will make her a threat to competitors, but for now she will learn the game of the current team, to better her play.
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