Guard Hiedeman brings some 'razz and dazz' to the Golden Eagles

Spend a few minutes watching Natisha Hiedeman play for the Marquette women’s basketball team and it’s pretty easy to see why Stephen Curry is one of the junior guard’s favorite players.

Hiedeman shares more than a couple traits on the court with the Golden State Warriors superstar.

The shooting range that starts a few steps over half court. The swaggering crossovers. The slender frames that disguise their toughness. The unbridled joy that is infectious to teammates.

“I always liked the razz and dazz, so I kind of take that option,” said Hiedeman, who grew up in Green Bay watching Curry highlights on YouTube.

The Golden Eagles, who open at New Mexico on Monday, are loaded with talent and ranked No. 19 in the USA Today preseason poll.

Junior Allazia Blockton is the unanimous Big East preseason player of the year and likely MU’s best player.

But Hiedeman is probably the heart and soul of the defending conference tournament champions who scored 78.8 points per game last season.

Hiedeman averaged 13.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while hoisting 205 three-pointers (making 75) and getting MU out on the break.

Head coach Carolyn Kieger said the Golden Eagles will play even faster this year, with Hiedeman, Blockton and junior Danielle King all likely playing point guard.

“We’re always going to be a tempopushing team,” Kieger said. “That’s our style, that’s how we recruit, too. That’s how our players want to play.”

The style definitely attracted Hiedeman. “In high school, it was pretty fastpaced,” said Hiedeman, who played at Green Bay Southwest High School. “And then I played AAU for Playground Elite and that pace was extremely fast as well … so I felt like this was a perfect fit because I was used to it and the transition would be easier.”

Hiedeman knows she has to balance her individual flair within the team framework.

"If I'm hot, then I have a little more free range, but if not then obviously I'm not going to take any unnecessary shots," she said.

Kieger, MU's all-time assists leader, is demanding of her guards.

"We know that Natisha is a great player, Allazia is a great player, our whole team (is)," the head coach said. "But we're much better when we play together. And they can showcase their skills when we celebrate each other."

To help prepare for life as Big East favorites, Kieger brought in a group of former Navy SEALS to toughen up her players in the summer with exhausting workouts.

“They basically just showed us that we got more to give,” Hiedeman said. “And that when we think we are tired, we’re really not. We can give one more, we can do more and we’re capable of whatever. They basically encouraged us at the end that we can do anything.” Hiedeman also worked on the court. “I’m trying to not just be a threepoint shooter but be able to attack inside, pull ups,” Hiedeman said. “Also adding to my game just defense, being really active on defense and being a pest to the offensive player.”

Sounds like she’s been watching Curry videos again.