It's no act. The senior center for the Montana Lady Griz basketball team spent last summer in Missoula working two jobs, doing clerical chores in a law office and waiting tables at Muralt's out at the Wye. The former was a window into a possible career. The latter was, well, a window into reality.
"The women there are great, but they work their butts off," Baird said, referring to the cafe. "You work at a truck stop, and you say to yourself, 'I need to buckle down in class.' It's an eye opener."
And she's been a vital factor in one Big Sky Conference championship, with a possible repeat looming around the corner.
"I look around at my life right now, and I feel fortunate," Baird said.
That isn't to say the road has been easy.
There's no question that Montana coach Robin Selvig possesses the Big Sky's best pair of post players in Baird and fellow 6-foot-3 senior Hollie Tyler. They are a major reason why Montana ripped through the league with a 14-0 record last winter and is 8-0 heading into home games against Sacramento State on Thursday and Northern Arizona on Saturday.
While Baird could start for just about any other Big Sky school, at Montana she's a good player stuck behind a superb one. Tyler is already the leading rebounder and shot blocker in Lady Griz history, as well as the second-leading scorer.
Baird's reaction has been to accept the situation with grace. She's averaged 4.4 points and 2.6 rebounds while playing roughly 14 minutes a game, slightly down from her junior season.
"Hollie has kept improving, and I've kind of stayed the same," said Baird, who played high-school ball in Chino, Calif., alongside current WNBA star Diana Taurasi. "I think I've improved in some respects, but as much as I try, she's a better rebounder. And that's where you win games, rebounding."
Baird and Tyler took turns starting as freshmen, then started together much of the time as sophomores. That season, Baird averaged a career-best 9.9 points and 4.8 rebounds and was named to the Big Sky all-tournament team.
The problem with the "Two Towers" look was on defense, where both players had trouble with smaller, quicker opponents.
"It took two good post defenders and made them two not-so-good forward defenders," Selvig said.
So, beginning last winter, Selvig had Tyler start, with Baird as the backup. It's kept both of them fresh, promoted clearer substitution patterns and been a better defensive fit. It's been better for the team.
Selvig loves the offensive spark that Baird provides. A prime example came in last Saturday's 66-47 victory at Montana State, where Baird hit 4-of-6 shots, scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds in 18 minutes. Last March, Baird scored 10 points off the bench in UM's narrow NCAA tournament loss to Louisiana Tech.
"Crystal has had that ability throughout her career, and we've been better for it," Selvig said.
Baird and Tyler have grown closer, even as they continue to battle every day in practice.
"Hollie and I are good friends, and she's been real supportive," Baird said. "Some days, when she's creaming me in practice, I wonder if I've helped her. But I know we're both better because of it."
Baird, who will finish her career with close to 900 points, says she has no regrets.
"No way," she said. "I've met some of my best friends, I've been able to play for a great coaching staff, I've been able to play in one NCAA tournament with, hopefully, another one to come. Plus, I'm engaged to someone special."
That would be Pat Malone, a newly-hired Missoula policeman and Lady Griz fan, who introduced himself to Baird last season.
"Yeah, I was pretty smooth," Baird says with a laugh. "I told this cute guy, 'If you need tickets, give me a call.' And that's how it started."
Malone has a young daughter, Emily, from a previous relationship, and the couple will soon add Mable, a springer spaniel puppy.
"I know there are a ton of challenges ahead, but I'm excited," said Baird, who may take her sociology degree and apply to law school. "Working in a law firm last summer, that was great. It's an area I think I'd be interested in pursuing."
Exploring Montana's backroads, riding horses, skiing, traveling to Europe ... Baird has all sorts of adventures on her wish list.
Meanwhile, there are six games left in the regular season. Baird intends to keep truckin'.
"Making the NCAAs one more time, that would be incredible," she said. "That would be a great way to go out."
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)