Sports
Monday, February 1, 2016
www.NorthernStar.info/Sports H @NSSports H 815-753-9637
11
Alvarez approaching 100 wins Danielle Brown Staff writer
DeKalb | Cristina Alvarez is the lone senior on the 2016 women’s tennis squad, remaining as one of the Huskies’ most productive players in her fourth year. Alvarez is approaching 100 combined wins for her career at NIU. She had 57 singles wins and 36 doubles wins coming into the season. She’s raised her singles wins to 60 and her doubles wins to 38, placing her career total at 98. Alvarez is one of four players on the Huskies’ roster who hails from a different country. She went 10-15 in the fall season, picking up five singles wins and winning NIU Female Scholar Athlete of the Week on Oct. 5.
that inspire you to play? A: Yes, Roger Federer is my favorite player. And then women’s player, Justine Henin. I like their style and they play a more aggressive game. I like their backhand. One hand backhand, that’s how I play.
Q: Do you have any pregame rituals? A: I see myself reviewing points, being focused, playing well, staying relaxed, warming up and focusing on the opponent.
Q: Do you tend to use the same strategy [every game] or do you ever switch it up based on the opponent? A: It depends on [the] opponent. I usually like to play my own game. If the opponent is good at Q: How long have you been passing, I tend to stay in the back playing tennis? and play my own game. A: I started when I was 6, so 14 years. Q: How do you like attending school in America? Q: What’s your favorite thing A: [It’s a] very good experience about the sport of tennis? and I get to play tennis at the same A: Probably that you can have time. In Spain, there are no sports fun at every level. The better I get, in universities so I wouldn’t be the more things I can do. You can able to play there. play for a long time, almost all your life. Q: Do you ever miss home? A: Yeah. I visit over summer Q: Do you have any role models and winter breaks most of the
Photo Courtesy NIU Athletics Communications
Senior Cristina Alvarez gathers for a swing this season for the Huskies. Alvarez is up to 60 singles wins and 38 doubles wins in four years at NIU, giving her 98 combined wins for her career.
time. But yeah I do miss home, the in the future? Alvarez will remain on the hunt food and weather. A: I want to keep playing some for 100 wins as the Huskies face tournaments. I’d like to keep play- off against Cleveland State 11 a.m. Q: Do you have plans for tennis ing, join a team or league. Saturday in Rockford.
MAC-leading defense helping b-ball Next game
Krystal Ward Staff writer
DeKalb | Men’s basketball is in the middle of an impressive, historic season — something the program hasn’t seen since going 18-2 through 20 games in the 1990-91 season. Here are three observations of the Huskies’ storybook season through 21 games:
Defense The biggest key to the Huskies’ success has been their defense. The team is currently first or second in most defensive categories in the MAC, something the team takes pride in. “We’re a defensive team,” said junior guard Aaric Armstead. “We pride ourselves on defense and it’s always one of our goals, period, every game to come out and be the aggressor on defense.” The team’s strong defense has allowed it to stay close in games even when it is struggling offensively. They know the shots will fall eventually, but they have to be locked in defensively even if they don’t. Senior guard Travon Baker said the Huskies’ defense is “totally 100 percent effort”, adding that the team prides itself on the defensive side of the ball and that not making shots does not affect the way the team approaches each game. Head coach Mark Montgomery said defense is “energy, effort and some grit” and his team displays it every game. NIU is first in the conference in scoring margin (+12.3), field goal percentage defense (38 percent), rebounding margin (+7.8), defensive and rebounds (28.1 average per game). The Huskies are second in the
NIU vs. Buffalo Time: 8 p.m. Date: Tuesday Place: Convocation Center
Atlee Hargis | Northern Star File Photo
Mark Montgomery, fifth year head coach, converses with players on the bench during a Jan. 22 win over Toledo. The Huskies are off to their best start in more than 20 years, going 16-5 through their first 21 games.
MAC in scoring defense (64.2 percent), assists (15.8 average per game), steals (7.4 average per game) and offensive rebounds (13.1 average per game). “[You’ve] got to play defense to get to offense,” Baker said. “We can’t outscore every team.” The Go-to Guys Coach Montgomery has three guys, especially in the starting lineup, that he thinks are go-to guys. Baker, Armstead and sophomore
center Marin Maric are all capable of putting up big numbers and igniting the team when they need a spark. “When I look at my offensive playbook before every game, I try to run a play for Aaric [Armstead], [Travon] Baker and Marin Maric to get those guys going,” Montgomery said. “They’re very capable scorers.” Baker is the team’s leading scorer in MAC play and the team has nothing but confidence in him. He recently tied NIU’s record for career steals set by Ronald Minter
(1993-97). “If he misses his first couple of shots, he knows that he’s put that time in the gym, he’s going to keep shooting,” Montgomery said. “He’s going to make shots, he’s going to make plays, he’s done it his whole career.” Armstead is the team’s “Energizer Bunny” according to his coach, and always guards the other team’s best offensive player, while also scoring the ball. “[Armstead is] our lock-down
defender, so he has to do both,” Montgomery said. “He was our MVP last year and if you look at the stats, his offensive numbers are up and once he starts knocking down that three, watch out, things are going to soar.” Maric has been a steady anchor for the team this season. He’s recorded a string of double-doubles this season in points and rebounds and is seventh in blocks in the conference. Maric was named MAC West Player of the Week on Dec. 28, one of three times this season a Huskie was named player of the week in the conference. Baker was named MAC West Player of the Week on Jan. 11 and Jan. 25. Home-court advantage The Huskies drew their biggest crowd of the season at the Convocation Center on Jan. 22 in a win against Toledo. More than 3,000 people were in attendance and chants of “Defense! Defense!” roared through the Convo in the final minutes of the game as the Huskies recorded stops on the defensive end. “[The crowd] makes a difference,” Montgomery said. “Your players feed off the crowd, they have more bounce and hop in their step and it was fun to see. It’s always fun to win at home and play at home.”