Tia Dawson broke five school records at Washington last season for rebounds and blocked shots, but she’s hoping those records don’t last very long.

She wants to break them herself this year.

Dawson, a 6-foot-2 senior, set records for most rebounds in one game (22), most rebounds in one season (272), highest rebounding average (11.8), most blocked shots in one game (10) and most blocks in one season (88).

“I felt really good about it,” she said. “But this year I want to do even better and improve on those records so they can stay there for awhile.”

Dawson averaged 15.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.8 blocks as the Warriors finished 14-9 overall and 11-5 in the Mississippi Valley Conference.

“She runs well, she’s got pretty good hands, she’s got pretty good timing, she’s a good shot-blocker, a good rebounder,” Washington Coach Frank Howell remarked. “She’s really coordinated for her size.”

Dawson, Alissa Oney (10.5 points) and Jazz Royster (8.4 points) led the Warriors in scoring last season as underclassmen. Dawson also led the team in steals and Oney led in assists, so all of the statistical leaders are back.

Washington’s sophomore team went 18-2 and won a conference title, so optimism is running high.

“I think we have a lot of potential this year,” Oney said. “I think we had a young team last year and we have a big group of seniors this year, and I think if we can push each other in practice and really work hard we have a lot of potential to achieve our goals this year.”

They are lofty goals.

“Coach always says the first goal is to get better today,” Oney remarked. “Win our next game, win the conference, get to state and win state.

“I think it is realistic,” she said. “Like I said, I think we have a strong team and a good group this year. And if we work hard I think we can accomplish all those goals.”

Dawson was a second-team selection on the INA all-state team last year and was a first-team choice for all-conference. Oney also was a first-team pick in the Mississippi Valley Conference, Royster was a second-team choice and Ashley Piper received Honorable Mention. Dawson, Oney and Piper are seniors and Royster is a junior.

“We have a good sense of our scoring and rebounding back. And experience,” Howell said. “We’ll aim high and see if we can compete with the best of them.”

Oney gives Washington an experienced point guard.

“She’s been starting since she was a sophomore, and she does a good job bringing the ball down under duress and handling pressure,” Howell said. “A senior guard, she has the experience of having seen a lot of defenses and looks, and being in a lot of different situations.”

Oney’s older sister, Katelin, starred for Washington a few years ago and is a junior on the University of Northern Iowa women’s basketball team, which reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history last season.

“She’s taught me a lot. Almost everything,” Oney said. “Me and her were in the gym almost every night in the season, and we pushed each other and worked hard.”

K.K. Armstrong, another Washington grad, is playing at Northern Iowa as well.

Dawson played in the state tournament as a freshman in 2008, but the Warriors did not make it to Des Moines in 2009 or 2010.

“I really want to get back,” she said. “I feel like this is our year.”

ROSTER

Seniors (9)

Ashley Piper (5-9), Chelsey McMahon (5-5), Alissa Oney (5-6), Jordon Pilcher (5-2), Janay Pritchett (5-6), Layloni Beard (5-8), Gail Barnum (5-3), Tia Dawson (6-2), Jordan Carr (5-5).

Juniors (6)

Jazz Royster (5-10), Tasha Roundtree (5-6), Callie Stone (5-5), Brooke Foreman (5-4), Lauren Goodlove (5-6), Kelli Klaus (6-1).

Sophomores (2)

Madison Kramer (5-11), Abby Herb (6-0).

SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Nov. 30 — Waterloo East, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 3 — at Waterloo West, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 4 — at Moline, 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 7 — Dubuque Senior, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 10 — at Sioux City North, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 11 — at Sioux City Heelan, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 14 — at Dubuque Wahlert, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 17 — Jefferson, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 21 — at Kennedy, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 4 — at Iowa City West, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 10 — Xavier, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 13 — Linn-Mar, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 18 — at Prairie, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 21 — Iowa City High, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 25 — Dubuque Hempstead, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 28 — at Jefferson, 6 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 4 — Kennedy, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 8 — at Cedar Falls, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 10 — at Linn-Mar, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 16, 19, 22 — Regionals

March 2, 4, 5 — State, Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines