Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Sierra Richards, Northern Basketball

As a post player, following in the footsteps of Skylight great A'Jha Edwards wasn't easy. But Sierra Richards has become exactly what these Skylights needed, a force in the paint

So you’re recruited to a women’s basketball program that’s in the midst of an incredible run of back-to-back NAIA national tournaments and is coming off an Elite 8 appearance. That’s pretty cool.

But you’re also recruited to take over a starting forward spot that was previously held by an NAIA First-Team All-American and one of the most dominant post players to ever play at the school.

That’s exactly what now Montana State University-Northern senior Sierra Richards had in front of her when she signed with the Skylights two years ago out of Lower Columbia Community College. On one hand, it had to be thrilling, coming to a program that was enjoying the success that the Skylights were enjoying at the time. On the other, coming to play the position left by the graduated A’Jha Edwards, that was a whole other matter.

And yet, in both regards, Richards, originally from Kelso, Washington, and an elementary education major, has turned out to be exactly what the Skylights needed. In just two years at MSU-N, she has solidified Northern’s inside game, at a time when things could have really been worrisome due to the impact Edwards had just had, and she’s also helped the Skylights continue the ride, as they’ve now gone to four straight NAIA national tournaments, including two in a row with Richards in the starting lineup.

“It’s an honor to play on this team, and get to the national tournament again,” Richards said. “It’s been an incredible experience playing in this program, and one that I don’t want to end.”

The end might be near, but the impact Richards has had on the Skylights will be ever-lasting. On the court, she’s been a force in the paint, especially this winter when she averaged 10 points and eight rebounds per game, which was second only to Carroll’s Cassidy Hashley. She has six double-doubles and 13 10-plus rebound games. For her efforts, she was named Frontier All-Conference this season, something that was very deserved, especially considering, on the defensive end, Richards was up to the task while guarding and rebounding against some of the top post players in all of NAIA basketball.

Off the court, it took no time at all for Richards to fit right in with the Skylights, as well. That’s not always the case for junior college transfers, but Richards was a perfect fit with and addition to the tightly-bonded Skylight group.

“It feels like Sierra has been here all four years with us,” senior Cydney Auzenne said recently. “She’s such a great girl and a great friend and teammate. So even though she’s only been here for two years, it doesn’t feel that way. It feels like she’s been with us since the start.”

No doubt. Richards’ impact on Northern’s run to yet another national tourney cannot be understated. She’s been a supremely important part of Northern winning 46 games over the last two seasons, and she’ll be a huge part of any success the Skylights will have this week in Billings.

Before Richards and the Skylights departed for Billings, the Havre Daily News caught up with her for five questions.

HDN: You talked last year about how you felt some pressure following the career of A’Jha Edwards. How do you feel about it now that almost two seasons have gone by?

Richards: “Last year was a big learning experience for me. This season, I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot more. I feel like I’ve become what I wanted to be. I wanted to make sure that I would be as good as the other post players in the conference. I don’t know if I’m that exactly, but I do know that I have held my own this season, and I feel really good about the way I’ve played.”

HDN: I know you’ve worked really hard on your game. What are some of the biggest improvements you see?

Richards: “My free-throw shooting was a huge one. I get fouled a lot. I had to get better at that. I think I have more confidence in my shooting, too. I don’t make them all, but I have way more confidence to shoot the ball. And my driving to the basket. You have to have confidence as a post player to take opponents to the basket, and I think I have a lot more confidence in that, too.”

HDN: You are a very good rebounder. What’s the secret to your success?

Richards: “Just working hard to get that position first. I’m pretty strong, so I just try and use my body and my strength to make sure I’m in the right position. And then really go up strong and grab the ball and be strong once you have the ball.”

HDN: Northern has a great host family program. I know you are very close with yours, Brandy and Robert Kurtz?

Richards: “I’m so grateful that they were my host family. I’m so thankful because they’ve really been there for me. They do so much and they are such great people. I can’t ever thank them enough for what they’ve done for me.”

HDN: When this is all over, what will being a Skylight mean to you?

Richards: “It’s special. It means a lot. When I got into basketball, I never thought I would get to do something like this, or be a part of a program like this. I didn’t know I’d be able to go this far with it. So I’m really thankful I got this opportunity, and all the great things I’ve been able to do with it, it just means so much.”