Salt Lake City- When Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) Women's Basketball player Nicole Newbold was in second grade, she sat terrified on the bench during her first Junior Jazz league basketball game. She waited anxiously for her coach to call her name, and finally her moment came.
 
“I played a year ahead on my sister's third grade team because I was tall enough, and my dad was our coach,” said Newbold, sophomore power forward at SLCC. “I remember that I didn't want to go into the game—I was littler than most of the other girls, I was kind of scared and didn't want to go play with all those third graders. My dad didn't care, because I ended up in the game anyway. Turns out, I loved it.”
 
Nicole was always tall for her age, so she's had plenty of experience at both the forward and center positions in basketball. After spending much of last year coming off the bench for the Bruins, Newbold has earned a starting lineup spot this year.
 
“Right now my focus is on rebounding, because I know it's a huge factor in our wins and losses,” Newbold said. “With injuries on the team, I've really had to pick that part of my game up. I'm also really focused on offensive rebounding and getting put-back baskets for easy points.”
 
At six feet tall, Nicole is an imposing figure on the basketball floor. Players in the post are often called on to play a rough, physically demanding style of play near the basket, something Newbold isn't shy about.
 
“I love the physical side of the game. I think it's a huge factor in outcomes,” she said. “I love rebounding, it just feels good. I love everything about being a 'big,' and though I love shooting the ball from outside, I'd never trade it for playing in the post.”
 
As a freshman at Bingham High School, Nicole was part of a State championship basketball squad in 2007. Newbold credits the coaching staff at Bingham for helping her become the person she is today, and admits that the transition to the college atmosphere was a bit surprising.
 
“It's a big eye opener to come to college. When I got here I thought I knew it all, but that wasn't the case,” she said. “It's a big transition, but I think that Bingham prepared me more than any other high school out there could have, simply because Rand [Coach Rasmussen] worked us so hard.”
 
Now playing under SLCC Women's Head Coach Betsy Specketer, Newbold has earned her power forward starting position the hard way. She spent much of her freshman year playing behind former Bruin star Jami Mokofisi.
 
“She was our starting forward at the time, and I had to prove that I could play against her,” said Newbold, who averages six rebounds per game this season. “I had to become more physical, I had to be strong, and playing against Jami really benefited me.”
 
Newbold is a multi-dimensional basketball player; she is able to score and defend against bigger players and also has the ability to make three-point shots. Her ability to stretch opposing defenses with her shooting ability is a skill she credits largely to practice with her father.
 
“I really started working on my three point shot in ninth grade,” said Newbold. “My dad is a great three-point shooter. He always wins the three-point shootouts in his [recreational] leagues and he always told me that it would be good for me to be able to step out and hit that shot.”
 
Newbold's SLCC Bruins have had a rollercoaster 2012 season, showing streaks of brilliance as well as stretches where the team has struggled to score. Newbold feels that the 'X' factor for this Bruin team is confidence.
 
“It's about confidence, it really is—when we weren't hitting shots, everyone got down and closed up,” said Newbold, who averages eight points per game this season. “What we need to do is give energy even when things aren't going our way. The energy we give is what helps us score and hit shots.”
 
Friendly with a big smile and a love for playing the piano, Nicole's personality belies her aggressive demeanor on the basketball floor. She's competitive, and emotionally invested in her team's successes and failures, often taking the result home with her mentally.  “After we lose, it feels horrible—especially in games that we should win,” she said.
 
Nicole is undecided in her academic major, and is currently working on her general studies. As is the case for many student-athletes across the nation, it's been tough to decide what she wants to do after basketball. “I'm taking some accounting and finance classes, and I've thought a lot about going into business,” said Nicole. “I've also thought about teaching elementary students because I really love children.”
 
SLCC Women's Basketball is currently 13-9 on the season, and will carry a three-game win streak into their matchup with in-State and conference rival Snow College on Saturday, February 11th at 3:00 p.m. at Bruin Arena in the Lifetime Activities Center at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus.
 
SLCC will host the Region 18 Basketball Championships from March 8-10, and Newbold is confident that despite having a couple of rough stretches, her team will be ready when opportunity knocks.
 
“I think we're on the upswing, and we really got back on track with our win over the College of Southern Idaho,” said Newbold. “We feel really good about ourselves, and as long as we keep getting better every day and chipping away, we'll be ready in March.”
 
Newbold has grown up quite a bit since second grade. She conquered her initial fear of playing with the 'big girls,' and now she's become one of them. Nicole hopes to use the leadership and confidence she's gained in her time at SLCC to boost her Bruins to a Scenic West Athletic Conference championship.
 
Fans can follow Nicole Newbold and all of her SLCC Bruin teammates all season long at slccbruins.com. Home games are played at Bruin Arena inside the Lifetime Activities Center on SLCC's Taylorsville Redwood Campus. Home games are broadcast live in select areas on Comcast channel 17 and at slcc.edu/slcctv.