Jan. 31, 2007

Coach Darrel Parker and the Northeastern Junior College women's basketball team are still celebrating the end of the Cold War. The Plainswomen have a prime time player from Moscow, Russia; and there is nothing the KGB can do about it.

President Regan never knew he would have such an effect on a small junior college in Middle America when he persisted on compromise between two major world power nations. All the summit meetings and peace talks in the 1980s resulted in a life-changing opportunity for an NJC student-athlete.

Young Daria Basova thought she was headed to a four-year school in Alabama to play when she was at home in Moscow researching the idea of playing basketball in the United States. But Basova found a sweet home in Colorado.

"The school in Alabama had some problems with my documents," Basova said. "So they made me make a choice...either take an exam or come here so I came here. We didn't know much about schools so I just took the opportunity I had. Luckily, it was a good choice. I really like my host family and all the support the town gives us."

Basova said she communicates with her family in Moscow by email, about three times a week on average.

"The situation is my mom doesn't really know basketball. All she cares about the games is if we won and if I played well," Basova said. "But getting my education was her whole point of letting me go here."

Basova could land on the roster of several NCAA, Division I institutions next season. That would have seemed like a pipe dream at nine-years-old when she first picked up a basketball. But her trip to Sterling and to the junior college ranks has paid dividends in her development and exposure. She said Coach Parker deserves a lot of the credit for the exposure and the development of her game.

"I like Coach Parker a lot," Basova said. "He brings experience and develops different kinds of skills. Playing under him is like playing at home. He reminds me a lot of my old coach, so it's just more relaxing."

Basova said her list of possible four year schools includes UC-Irvine, Long Island University, Colorado State, Alaska-Anchorage, Utah State, Lewis and Clark and Rutgers. She's made the commitment in the classroom necessary to allow her to achieve her goals.

"I'm really happy about the location and the size of some of the schools," Basova said. "Some of them have really good educational programs also."

Basova's achievements in the classroom are so astronomical that even Sputnik would be proud. With work-ethic and ability to handle a second language, Basova has placed herself at the head of the class academically. She may end up on some post-season awards lists as a player, but she already locked down a spot on the President's List for her 4.0 grade point average during the first semester.

"You have everything you need for your classes here," Basova said. "It's much harder to study back home than it is here. People look at it (education) differently over here. People here pay more attention to school and basketball than they do to other problems."

Smart people make smart players. And Basova has put two and two together on the court after a trial run year that helped her grow accustomed to American culture.

"It was really, really weird to see people come to class in pajamas," Basova said of her early days at NJC.

After one season in with the Plainswomen, Basova showed shades of brilliance. But her eight points a game along with her five rebounds per contest as a freshman didn't "wow" any major programs. But with a year of American basketball and American culture under her belt, Basova is coming into her own.

Now in her second year at NJC and in the United States, Basova has earned the label of "go-to" player. As Daria goes, so go the Plainswomen. And to this point in the season, both are going pretty well.

Basova has delivered more knockout blows than Ivan Drago for the 16-5 Plainswomen. She is brings a shooter's touch to the post, a common characteristic found in tall European players like Dirk Nowitski. At 6-foot-3, her offensive game includes a surprisingly soft touch for a player stereotyped for playing strictly in the paint

"They never let me play guard, even if I wanted to," Basova said. "But my coach was pretty good and he worked with us on all kinds of shots, no matter what position we were."

Basova is brining the hammer and the chisel to the stat sheet. She leads the Plainswomen in scoring at 19 points a game. She's made 77-of-94 free throws. That's 82 percent on any continent.

With her height, Basova also brings a physical nature to her game on the glass. She's averaging close to 10 rebounds a game while compiling 14 blocked shots. Her stature and physical play compliment an NJC team that is surviving on speed and quickness due to its lack of size.

"Speed is our strength, definitely. But I have height. And when we need something different, that's where I come in" Basova said. "I think we have really good chemistry. We don't bring anything to the court from outside and we just really want to achieve something."

Basova's recorded more double-doubles than a chewing gum commercial. Counting her 34 points and 13 rebounds on Thursday against Sheridan, Basova has recorded 12 double-doubles on the season. She ripped off five straight double-doubles in November to set the tone on what's become a banner season. She's led the Plainswomen in scoring 14 times this season, and she's been the top rebounder in 14 contests.

"I've really improved my scoring this year because I'm not as nervous as I was last year. I feel more relaxed and comfortable on the court. This place has really become home."