Persby is not your average point guard

Nicole Persby

Senior point guard Nicole Persby is not shy. She is also not even close to being an average point guard. She is as modest as they come, while at the same time carrying a touch of personal confidence for which so many people admire her. She takes responsibility for being the leader on the court, but she doesn’t have to yell to make people listen.

“A lot of people look to me to lead them and I guess that’s fine,” she said. “I never ask anyone to, but people just do it and I tend to be OK with that.”

This is no Charles Barkley telling you that he’s not a role model, but Nicole Persby is not exactly demanding. She takes the role because that’s all she knows.

“I’ve played point guard ever since I was in fourth grade,” she said. “It’s just where the coaches always put me. I guess I never really thought about it.”

The starting point guard position at SCSU sort of fell into her lap in the same manner her freshman year. During the first game of the season, starting point guard Katie Shay was injured. That’s when Persby’s long and eventful SCSU career began.

During her freshman year, Persby made an immediate impact. While starting in all 27 games, she was ranked second in the NCC in assists with 5.89 per game, 24th in NCAA Division II and was team Defensive Player of the Year.

Persby’s sophomore year was a little rocky. Although she led the team in assists with 139 (5.1 apg), averaged 10 points a game and reached career highs with 10 assists in wins over Bemidji State and UND, her numerous disagreements with head coach Lori Ulferts became evident.

“We didn’t get along at all,” Persby said. “I think we just weren’t communicating correctly. We both wanted the same thing, but we didn’t know how to reach it. We came back the next year and I gave a little bit and she gave a little bit and now we get along really well. I know what she wants from me and she knows what I’m going to do.”

It wasn’t exactly a player-coach feud, but a disagreement between two extremely competitive people fighting for the same goal. It is not exactly a rarity in great athletes. It can also be seen in Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson and Chris Carter.

“We now have a really good relationship,” Persby said. “I can go in there at any time and talk to her about anything. It was bumpy along the way, but that’s to be expected in any friendship.”

Persby put everything together her junior year. With Persby and Ulferts on the same page, the Huskies had one of their most successful years in school history with a 21-9 overall record (12-6, NCC). The Huskies made their first NCAA playoff appearance since 1989. Persby lead the NCC in assists with 167 and was second on the team in field goal percentage (45.2) and steals (68).

“She is really the spark plug because she gets everybody where they’re supposed to be,” Ulferts said.

Thus far her senior year has also been a success. She is 139 assists away from breaking the school record set at 705 by Dawn Anderson. She played in her 100th game in a loss to UND Jan. 18 and scored her 1000th point in a home win over Mankato on Dec. 30.

The amazing thing about Persby is that she is so sheltered with modesty that she doesn’t even know most of the things she has accomplished.

“I don’t know hardly any of that stuff,” she said laughing. “You guys worry about it. If I get close to a record, don’t tell me because I’ll probably screw it up.”

Persby grew up in a competitive childhood. She and her brother Andy were always competing against each other. Andy now plays for the Minnesota Twins’ minor league team, the Fort Myers Miracle, and was a well-known pitcher for the Minnesota Gophers.

“My mom would always get mad because we could never do anything as a family without me getting mad,” she said. “We’d go bowling and I’d cry if I didn’t win. I have the most supportive family, I swear. I have a lot of aunts and uncles and I have at least 10 people at every game. I appreciate it so much that my family is there supporting me especially because my brother and sister don’t have a lot of time, but they still come watch me play.”

One of the aspects of Persby’s game that the Huskies will miss most next year is her humor

“She’s a lot of fun,” Ulferts said. “She has just a fun background. She’s never afraid to bring up something that’s....not exactly embarrassing, but she teases and she’s the captain so she lightens it up a little bit. She makes practice fun at the right times.”

One of those occasions came at the expense of good friend and roommate Jenny Peterson. When the team was practicing free throws Persby suggested that before each player shot, they’d have to name their favorite candy bar. Peterson, well known for her slurred speech, stepped to the line.

“Out of all the candy in the world she said Snickers, which really came out as Schlnickers’,” Persby said. “That will never get old.”

Persby is majoring in broadcast journalism and her dream job is to be a sideline reporter at football games. Although it will be hard, she looks forward to life after basketball.

“I actually love the game,” she said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do when I don’t have to go to practice or workout everyday. In a way I’m looking forward to just being a regular person for a while, but I know I’ll miss it in the long run.”

“I think I’ve had a pretty good career. I’ve had some good games and bad games and good years and bad years, but for the most part, it’s been pretty successful and I’m pretty happy with it.”

With the majority of her successful basketball career behind her Persby still has hopes for the remainder of this season.

“I just want us to go out every game and try our hardest so we have nothing to regret,” she said. “I hate regretting things. I don’t want to look back on this season and think, ‘If I only made them work harder or pushed myself harder.’ I obviously want to win and keep winning because that last game will be tough for me. I just want to be successful and leave a mark.”

Persby’s career has already left a huge mark on SCSU women’s basketball. Her personality may leave many more marks to come.

On Friday and Saturday night, the Huskies will square off against Augustana College and South Dakota State University at 6 p.m. in Halenbeck Hall.

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Bobby Hart can be reached at: [email protected]

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