Point of attack
Following a week where she averaged 18 points, 6.3 rebounds and three steals per game, junior Erica Nord wasn’t even thinking about her individual accomplishments. She wasn’t looking at the conference statistical leaders or analyzing her shooting percentage. Instead she was focusing on the three-way tie the Cobbers were in for first place in the conference.
When a friend texted her “Congratulations on the award,” she had to ask, “What award?”
The response to her question shocked her—in a good way. She was the MIAC Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week.
This sequence of events doesn’t surprise those who know Nord well. In fact, assistant coach Rachel Bergeson has come to expect that type of reaction.
“She’s so humble,” Bergeson said. “[She’s] incredibly dedicated, very coachable, a really good teammate. When it comes down to it, she just wants the team to succeed.”
Nord’s leadership both on and off the court has helped the team do exactly that this season. After losing point guard Jenna Freudenberg—the 2008-2009 MIAC Player of the Year—to graduation, the team had a big void to fill. Bergeson said it has been a group effort to make this year’s team successful, but she also believes Nord has been an important factor in the equation.
“Being in the point guard role almost forces leadership,” she said. “It’s a tough task day in and out, and she meets it. She’s picked up on system really well.”
Nord said that it’s been a team effort. She credits the team’s success to hard work and team chemistry, and she knows each player has an important role. With a team full of athletes who can be a threat on any given night, Nord believes the team’s deep roster gives them an edge.
“Nobody can really scout us,” Nord said. “Everybody on our team can do good things. Everybody can step up and contribute.”
Senior Sara Sorbo agrees that success is driven by a team effort, but she also knows Nord’s play has been a big help.
“I think a big contribution from Erica is her consistency,” Sorbo said. “She’s a team leader, and she does it well.”
After a loss to Bethel Saturday, Jan. 30, the team was tied for second place in the MIAC with St. Ben’s. With Gustavus just one game ahead of them in the standings and seven conference games to go, the coming matchups are important if the women want a chance to reach the postseason.
“Since we’re sitting so pretty in the MIAC, we’d like to win that and make it back to nationals,” Sorbo said.
“I don’t think you should put limitations on a team,” Nord said. “If we stay fresh and keep working hard, we can definitely get there.”
Bergeson knows how much the women would love to make back-to-back appearances at nationals, and she believes that Nord has the potential to help them get there.
“She never backs down – she wants to win,” Bergeson said. “She’s respected in the league because she plays at a hard level, but she’s classy.”
Nord’s attitude and work ethic are not the only things separating her from the crowd this season. Nord is at or near the top of just about every statistical category for the Cobbers this season, including total points, assists and steals, yet she still knows there are more important things, both in basketball and in life.
“There’s so much more than how many points you score—all those intangibles,” she said. “That stuff doesn’t show up in statistics, but it’s more important. It’s that stuff that wins games.”
