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Bird has been flying high at Northern
Montana State University-Northern senior Megan Feldman has been with the Skylights for the last two seasons. And it's no coincidence that with Feldman in the lineup, the Skylights have thrived, as she's helped them become one of the best defensive and rebounding teams in the NAIA.
Megan Feldman has been a key cog in the Skylight machine
College basketball has been a fun and exciting journey for Montana State University-Northern senior Megan Feldman. But before her career is over, Feldman and the Skylights have one more journey to go on as they head to Independence, Missouri, for the NAIA national tournament.
Feldman, who is nicknamed “Bird,” came to Northern ahead of the 2013-14 season after a transferring from Clackamas Community College. Since her arrival, she has played a key role in the Skylights’ success the past two seasons as the 6-1 foward has given MSU-N a solid presence inside on both ends of the floor.
Last season, Feldman’s first with the Skylights, was a successful one as the former graduate of Estacada High School in Estacada, Oregon, averaged 6.8 points per game to go along with 5.1 rebounds, one steal and 0.6 blocks per game. She is also 50 percent from the field.
Under head coach Chris Mouat, the Skylights have built a foundation based on defense and since the start of 2013-14, Feldman and her many talents, has been a key piece to that puzzle. And because of that, as well as her ability to score inside, she played heavy minutes for a Northern team that went 22-10 a season ago and won a game in the national tournament before coming within three points of the final eight after an excruciating 58-55 loss to eventual national champion Oklahoma City University.
Yet, in her senior season Feldman has been even better, especially on the offensive end of the floor. She upped her points per game average by nearly two points to 8.3 PPG, while connecting on 58 percent of her shots from the field. She also put together another solid season on the boards, averaging just under five a game in addition to averaging a steal and half a blocked shot per night.
Feldman’s efforts, along with that of her teammates, has helped the Skylights put together their best season under Mouat as they boast a 27-5 record going into the national tournament, following a second-place finish in the Frontier conference.
All season long, the Skylights have been a force in NAIA women’s basketball and big reason for that is their desire to advance further in the national tournament than a season ago. The road will certainly be difficult, especially with a loaded bracket but after navigating a challenging conference schedule and dropping just a handful of games, the Skylights are more than ready to make a run, even against the best the NAIA has to offer.
MSU-N’s run in the national tournament begins this week, when the Skylights will face No. 21 Lindsey Wilson College of Columbia, Kentucky, Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Yet, before Feldman and her teammates departed Havre for the long trip to Missouri, the Havre Daily News caught up with Feldman for five questions.
HDN: How did you get your nickname?
Feldman: “Because of when I cut my hair, my Mohawk looks like the Birdman (NBA player Chris Anderson) and they (Skylights) just called me Bird. They jokingly called me bird-woman but Bird is just easier.
HDN: You have an identical twin who plays NAIA basketball — you used to play together — how have these last two seasons been apart?
Feldman: “We played all up through junior college together and then we decided to in order to grow, that we should split. It’s been interesting. I think it’s been harder on her than me because I was the one that kind of took care of her. I thought it would help her grow. Out of high school I got offered by Northern and went to junior college. I could have went to the same school as her, but I decided it would be better to come here.”
HDN: What is one thing you like about Havre and will miss if you leave after graduation?
Feldman: “It kind of reminds me of my home town where everybody just knows you. It’s a sweet little town, where everybody just takes care of each other. It feels like another home here to me.”
HDN: What are you going to miss the most about basketball after your senior season?
Feldman: “Probably just the team. Having just meals together and talking. It’s going to be weird not being busy all the time. I like being busy, so not having that will be weird, especially without the team there. You always have them to work out with, and I don’t know if I will do that on my own. I’m lazy.”
HDN: What’s the best part about playing in the national tournament?
Feldman: “Just the excitement. Everyone is so happy to be there and just seeing how happy everyone is while they are there, and it’s really high intensity competition. Everyone is about on the same level, so it’s just kind of who has the bigger heart wins.”
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