Career Resume
Second in career free throw percentage (82.2)
Third in career rebounds (796)
2000-2001 All-PacWest selection
2002-2003 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 2nd team
Feature Story: On the Court and Off, MSUB's Visger Always Looks to Improve (By: Joe Kusek/Billings Gazette, 2/19/2003) - Original Publication
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The night was late and the winter air around Alterowitz Gymnasium was still with silence.
Inside, a small burst of sounds emanated from the basketball court. There would be a sharp squeak of rubber, followed by the shallow thumping of a falling basketball.
Nobody bothered to look inside to see what was causing the noise.
Everybody already knew.
Natalie Visger was working on her game again.
"The custodians know me," said Visger, recognized for the solo workouts during her four seasons with the Montana State-Billings women's basketball team.
"I'm never really satisfied. There is always something I can work on."
The continually motivated Visger has rarely rested at MSU-Billings, on the court and off.
Along with working herself into one of the top players in the history of the program, the native of Gillette, Wyo., carries a 3.94 in biology.
"It's all about time management," Visger said of her balancing act. "When I have free time, I can't relax until I have the basketball part done. After the basketball, then I can relax and study."
She originally planned to enlist in the Army after graduation this May to eventually become a doctor. Visger has changed those plans to pursue a teaching degree and become a coach in the future.
"I want to coach at the collegiate level," she said before Wednesday's practice. "I want to coach motivated athletes who love basketball."
They would be hard-pressed to love the game more than Visger.
Entering this weekend's final regular season home games against Western New Mexico — Saturday night and Sunday afternoon — the 5-11 forward ranks among the top 15 at MSU-B for career points, rebounds, career free throws, blocked shots and assists.
Visger is one of only five players in the program's storied history to have more than 1,000 points (1,122) and 700 rebounds (739). There are four games remaining in the regular season.
She has also posted 22 double-doubles (points-rebounds) in 106 games and is the linchpin for one of the most successful classes in Yellowjacket history. The group has won a program-record 28 consecutive home games.
This season, Visger is averaging a team-best 15.1 points a game for a 16-6 MSU-B team that is on track to qualify for the NCAA Division II national tournament a third time in four years.
"Everything I've done, where my success comes from, is from working my butt off," said Visger, who has always had a maturity beyond her 22 years.
"I push myself physically and mentally to as much as I can handle."
Visger made herself a player with a regimented off-season routine. She and her teammates would meet early in the morning to play pick-up games at Alterowitz Gymnasium. Visger would follow it with some cardiovascular work, then 45 minutes of drills at the gym later in the evening. She would alternate her drills, one night for post play, another night focused on perimeter play.
The work has made her adept at taking the ball to the basket with either hand and given her the confidence to succeed against much taller opponents.
"I feel I can out-think and out-work anybody," said Visger. "That makes up for any height disadvantage.
"I don't like to feel I have a weak spot in my game. I don't want to be the weak link on the team. I always think, 'Did I do everything I could? Maybe I could have done something different.' I've always tried to improve everything in my game."
Maniacally driven to succeed since childhood — "I don't know why. I've always been like that. I've learned to control it," she said with a laugh — Visger helped Gillette win two 4A state basketball championships and a runner-up finish in high school. She also played on a state championship volleyball team.
| MSUB's Visger by the numbers1,122 — career points, 15th on the MSU-B career list.745 — career rebounds, 4th260 — career free throws, 8th38 — career blocked shots, 12th22 — career double-doubles2 — NCAA tourney appearances |
Visger was attracted to MSU-Billings because of then-coach Frank McCarthy's dedication to the game and family atmosphere that surrounds the team. But McCarthy left a few weeks into the season. Elwin Heiny took over for one year and Karyn Ridgeway has been the head coach the past three seasons.
Through it all, even with the team losing a conference affiliation and a difficult travel schedule, Visger has been there to push, pull, prod and even sometimes yell the Yellowjackets to victory.
"She's not afraid of leadership," Ridgeway said. "Natalie's not afraid to drive people and drive herself."
Visger admits she's learned to curb her voracious competitive spirit when it comes to others. But she is not afraid to vocalize her feelings.
"I care a lot about this program and it shows by how much time I put in," Visger said firmly. "I do hold my teammates accountable. One thing that ticks me off is loafing. I yell at people. If they're not working hard, I get on them.
"I just want us do to the best we can. The final thing is the score."
Visger devotes equal tenacity to her studies. If not coaching, she toys with the idea of becoming a strength coach or something similar for an athletic program.
"I really don't have a plan and that's kind of bothering me," she added with another small laugh.
That doesn't mean Visger is without future plans.
"I've got some new goals," she said. "I'm taking a swimming class. I might try to do some triathlons … maybe even try some boxing. If I sit, I become bored and unhappy.
"If I don't have a challenge, I start to feel apprehensive. I always feel I don't do enough."
As her career winds down, Visger refuses to be idle and rest on her on-court and classroom numbers.
"Right now, I'm enjoying the basketball and my teammates. I've loved it here," she said. "It's hard thinking these are the last home games. I knew it would bother me. It's going to hit me this weekend."
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