Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Sydney Hovde, Skylight Basketball

Montana State University-Northern Skylights basketball is now in full swing and the team has started off well with a 3-0 record. With two big wins over Vanguard University and Dickinson State, the Skylights are ready to continue their a great season, starting with today's special, Field Trip Game.

For junior forward Sydney Hovde, another year means another chance to be great.

Hovde has played basketball for as long as she can remember. The game has always been a passion and something Hovde has put a lot of effort into. And over the last three games, Hovde has put in her fair share of work for Northern.

Hovde has totaled 27 points, 18 rebounds and one assist so far this year. The great start for Hovde is helped by her goal of being better than last season. In the 2018-2019 season, Hovde averaged 10.1 points and 7.3 rebounds, while shooting 57 percent from the field. She recorded single-game highs of 19 points and 14 rebounds, and she had the second-most double-doubles in the Frontier Conference.

Hovde's, mindset each game fuels her to do her very best.

"I want to come out and, obviously, win," Hovde said. "But to play good as a team and as individuals, as well as try to play better than the last game, usually."

On top of giving her best performance, Hovde was named the Frontier Conference Newcomer of the Year last season, after she transferred to Northern from North Idaho College.

Her determination is certainly a great aspect that the Skylights appreciate.

Her second year on the Northern squad will be an exciting one for Hovde. With a nice start to the year, it is reasonable to see that Hovde will be a player to keep an eye out for on the court. After all, she has done well since the day she joined the program, a program that also includes best friend and former Columbia Falls teammate Peyton Kehr.

"She's really made herself into a player," MSU-N head coach Chris Mouat said. "She works extremely hard and is a great teammate. She's finishing around the rim better this year. She's worked our game and she's a great person now in our program. The bottom line is she's really hard-nose, and she's already proven that she can guard a little bit quicker players than she was guarding last year, so I think that's a big step forward in her game. She's just a great teammate and a great person to have in every way."

With her coach's praise and her work ethic, Hovde will surely be ready to take on Corban College Friday this afternoon in the Armory Gymnasium. But before the game, Havre Daily News caught up with Hovde for five questions.

HDN: What are your goals for the season?

Hovde: "For me, I just want to try to do better than I did last year. As a team, I just want to win together and come out on top. Hopefully, get more wins than we did last year and just play together as one team."

HDN: What is your favorite thing about the game of basketball?

Hovde: "I just love the competition and being able to do it with all my friends and teammates. It's just really fun this year. I just love it."

HDN: What are your hobbies outside of your basketball?

Hovde: "I used to play softball in high school, so that was one of them. But right now, it's hunting season so I do that. In the summertime, I like fishing, camping or hiking, all that kind of stuff."

HDN: What is your biggest motivation on the court?

Hovde: "I just like playing for my team and for myself, I guess. But I just don't want to let my team down."

HDN: Who would you choose as teammates for a three-on-three basketball game?

Hovde: "Probably Peyton (Kehr) would be one of them because me and her have been doing three-on-three tournaments ever since junior high and high school, so she's probably one of them. Tiara (Gilham) would be another one and probably Allix (Goldhahn)."