Riley Nordgaard had a noticeable badge from battle beneath her right eye on Tuesday. The shiner is symbolic of the energy and fearless play the junior has brought to the Bobcats thus far this fall.
The junior from Canby, Minnesota is shooting nearly 45 percent from the floor, including 54.3 percent from beyond the 3-point line. Her 12 points per game are among the 20 best averages in the Big Sky Conference. But what Nordgaard brings to the Montana State women’s basketball team from an intangible standpoint —diving for loose balls, slashing into passing lanes, providing seemingly endless sparks of energy — is what has the Bobcats performing at such a high level. MSU is 9-4 overall and has won five out of its last seven heading into this week’s road trip to Sacramento State and Portland State.
MSU forward Riley Nodrgaard
“Riley is so high energy, everyone can feed off of her,” Montana State 11th-year head coach Tricia Binford said on Tuesday. “She’s a playmaker on both ends of the floor, whether it’s offensive rebounds, slashing to the basket, maybe something in transition, maybe hitting the open shot. Defensively, she is typically leading our team in steals and hustle plays.
“Those things spark a lot with the rest of the team.”
On Saturday, Montana State trailed Northern Arizona 66-51 in the fourth quarter before going on a tear to send the game to overtime. During the torrid comeback, Nordgaard drew a charge from NAU center Alyssa Radar to earn a possession back. Later on, she dove on the floor to secure a loose ball and secure possession once again.
In the waning seconds of regulation, Nordgaard drilled her fourth 3-pointer of the fourth quarter as Montana State knotted the game at 71 to force overtime. In OT, the Bobcats road the momentum of a suddenly energized crowd to an 86-77 victory, moving to 2-0 in Big Sky Conference play. Nordgaard finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds in her first Saturday playing against Big Sky competition.
“A couple girls said, ‘We were a great team last year too but we couldn’t find ways to finish at times,” Nordgaard said, referring to last season’s 15-15 roller coaster, one that Nordgaard watched from the bench. “Pulling out a win like that has really give our girls confidence that we can. We know we are a different team this year. This is our year. We are going to finish games. We are strong enough to do it.”
Part of that strength comes for Nordgaard, a 5-foot-10 forward with noticeable athleticism, a smooth style and a confidence that resonates. For any observer of Montana State’s practices a season ago, there was never a doubt that Nordgaard could play at the Division I level. But she spent last winter sitting out due to NCAA rules after her transfer from Division II Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
MSU forward Riley Nordgaard
“It was a hungry season,” Nordgaard said. “I was ready come October of last year. My team did a great job of making me feel included and still feel a part of it. I really did feel like a part of the team.”
Nordgaard spent last winter battling with senior forward Jackie Elliott in practice trying to earn her stripes and the respect of her teammates. Her slashing style, keen rebounding ability and smooth pull up jump shot were on display even then but the Bobcats had to wait.
“It’s tough because you have somebody on the sidelines who can help you immediately but at the same time, you have to stay in the moment with your personnel and who you have,” Binford said. “I think there so much good as far as being a year in the program here and now having two big years, utilizing that and just to know the system.”
Nordgaard’s transition from Division II to Division I is atypical. Her move up came out of a desire to be challenged.
At Canby High School, Nordgaard was a terror, earning 2012 Minnesota Class A Player of the Year honors as a senior. The two-time all-state selection was her conference’s MVP four times, setting school records with 2,558 points, 1,090 rebounds and 558 steals. Her senior season, she averaged 24 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.9 steals per game.
She garnered plenty of Division I interest. Nordgaard spent much of her youth playing with a traveling team based in South Dakota. She chose Augustana both for its academic prestige as well as for it’s proximity to home; it’s 112 miles from Canby to Sioux Falls.
MSU forward Riley Nordgaard
“Originally, I only had Division I offer in high school when I was looking at schools but when it really came down to it, academic pursuits, Augustana College is renowned, close to home, the cream of the crop academically,” Nordgaard said. “I really wanted to get the most of everything and be a basketball player. And I know the obligations at the Division I level are very intense and I just thought ‘That’s cool, but let’s try this out.’ Halfway through my career, it wasn’t enough. I wanted a little bit more. I wanted to see what was left.”
Binford has a relationship with Nordgaard’s former AAU coach and with Elliott set to graduate after last season, Binford knew she could use athleticism on the wing. Nordgaard began her acclimation to the program last season and the bond grew closer during MSU’s international tour trip to the Bahamas in the spring.
In a pair of exhibitions, Nordgaard flashed a skill set that is becoming commonplace this winter, notching 18 points in one exhibition win and grabbing 12 rebounds in another.
So far this season, the results are carrying over. Nordgaard averaged 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds as MSU swept Southern Utah and NAU to open conference play. This season, Nordgaard is averaging 12 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.2 steals for the surging Bobcats.
“Energy can feed into so many other things,” Binford said. “It can lift up your defense. It can lift up your offensive rebounds. It brings your team together. It helps you be more competitive. Riley is absolutely a high energy kid and that’s what makes her so exciting.”
MSU forward Riley Nordgaard
The grind of her first Division I season is just beginning and Nordgaard already has a shiner to show for it. On Tuesday, she joked about how her 22-year-old body isn’t as resilient as it once was. Self-deprecating jokes and battle wounds aside, Nordgaard has lofty goals for her first season competing in the Big Sky.
“I definitely have my eye on a Big Sky championship,” Nordgaard said. “I think basketball is a great way of showing you a lot about yourself, your work ethic, your determination, pushing through being tired, overcoming adversity. My goals, I want two rings because I have two years. Coaching is in the back of my mind, playing professionally is in the back of my mind but at this point, I’m loving every game and trying to chase a ring.”
Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
