Rebecca Alvidrez (2018) - Hall of Fame - Montana State University Athletics

Rebecca Alvidrez

Induction:
2018

   Rebecca Alvidrez packed a hall of fame career into just two seasons at Montana State. That, in itself, speaks highly for the impact she left on the Bobcat women’s basketball program.
   Alvidrez honed her skills in high school. She spent her first three years at Thunderbird in Scottsdale, Ariz. The school didn’t sponsor girls’ basketball, so Alvidrez played on the boys’ team and earned all-conference honors. After moving to Colorado Alvidrez led Pomona High School to a state title.
   She played her first two collegiate seasons at Otero Junior College. As a sophomore, she garnered national junior college All-America kudos.
   “The first time I saw Rebecca she was playing for Otero at the Region IX tournament,” said Frank McCarthy, who recruited Alvidrez to Montana State. “About five minutes into the game I had already said ‘wow’ about a half-a-dozen times. She was so dynamic on both ends of the court. Rebecca played the game with passion and intensity. She had the ‘it’ factor.”
   McCarthy won the recruiting battle and Alvidrez wowed crowds in Worthington Arena with a style of basketball that had never been seen on the women’s side.
   “We as coaches can’t always define exactly what ‘it’ is, but Rebecca was one of those rare players who had the talent to take over a game if necessary,” McCarthy said. “But the most important part of ‘it,’ is that Rebecca made everyone around her a better player and she made me a better coach. Her love of the game is unmatched and that’s what I will always remember.”
   Alvidrez posted one of the best all-around campaigns in Bobcat history as a junior and for her efforts was named First-Team All-Big Sky Conference. In addition, she garnered Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year accolades.
   As a senior, she led the Cats to its first regular-season Big Sky title in nine years, averaging 9.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists. But perhaps her biggest contributions came on the other end of the court. Alvidrez was named the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and picked-up her second straight First-Team All-Big Sky honor.
   “She was a tough competitor,” said Mark Kellogg, who coached Alvidrez her senior season, and currently is head coach at Stephen F. Austin. “She played with grit. To this day, she’s the best rebounding guard I’ve ever coached. She was a very crafty player that got everyone involved.”
   Alvidrez has gone on to a successful collegiate coaching career and currently serves as assistant head coach at Stephen F. Austin. “When I was looking to fill my staff, she was the one I looked at first,” Kellogg said. “She’s won at every stop along the way.”
   And, true to form, Alvidrez continues to pack the most into every day.