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"Sophia has also had more than her share of trying times in Missoula — coming back from knee surgery and shoulder surgery, adjusting to three different head coaches, trying to salvage her senior season after a battle with COVID-19 around Christmas time.
But something changed in a big way on Feb. 3 when she hit the first game-winning buzzer-beater of her career, stunning Weber State in front of an electrified crowd at Dahlberg Arena. Coincidence or not, Sophia has averaged close to 16 points a game since then and piled up a career-high 29 in Friday’s critical win at Sacramento State.
"The confidence (coach) Brian (Holsinger) puts in every single one of us makes it easier in moments like that. Then I guess it is maybe a little bit of, 'It's my senior year. I've put in the time. They're all shots I've made before.' With Brian's confidence, it makes it a lot less pressure in those moments."
The leap Stiles has made since that fateful night in early February has been remarkable. She didn't even make the honorable mention all-Big Sky list last season and averaged just 6.6 points in five games this past January.
"I was definitely very tired the first few games I came back," she said of her COVID experience over Christmas break. "I think after all these experiences I've had, it's just really shed light on how fast the game can be taken away."
“She is our leader, the heartbeat of our team, and that part of it doesn’t always get votes,” Holsinger said, alluding to the fact Stiles was named second team all-league instead of first team this week. “It’s a big responsibility, and she’s been learning what that means all season.”
No one is a bigger fan of what Holsinger has done in the Garden City than Stiles. In fact, she has left the door ajar on coming back next season, saying she and Holsinger will sit down and have a chat when March madness comes to a close.
"He's very detail-oriented," Stiles said. "But I can't say it enough: The amount of confidence he instills in every single one of us is unmatched by any other coach I've ever had.
"That is really what it is. When you have him and three other coaches that sometimes believe in you more than you believe in yourself, it makes you feel like you can do anything."
There's also another aspect of Holsinger's personality that impresses Stiles.
"The one thing that always kept me steady was my faith," she said. "Even when times were trying, I always had God as my rock. Brian is a great man of faith. I've shared that with him. That's also contributed to this year."
https://missoulian.com/sports/college/big-sky-conference/university-of-montana/stiles-grace-lady-griz-senior-fights-through-hard-times-dazzles-in-montanas-stretch-run/article_b8de1c0d-3641-57ae-9578-0b5c5936c7ca.html#tracking-source=home-top-story
But something changed in a big way on Feb. 3 when she hit the first game-winning buzzer-beater of her career, stunning Weber State in front of an electrified crowd at Dahlberg Arena. Coincidence or not, Sophia has averaged close to 16 points a game since then and piled up a career-high 29 in Friday’s critical win at Sacramento State.
"The confidence (coach) Brian (Holsinger) puts in every single one of us makes it easier in moments like that. Then I guess it is maybe a little bit of, 'It's my senior year. I've put in the time. They're all shots I've made before.' With Brian's confidence, it makes it a lot less pressure in those moments."
The leap Stiles has made since that fateful night in early February has been remarkable. She didn't even make the honorable mention all-Big Sky list last season and averaged just 6.6 points in five games this past January.
"I was definitely very tired the first few games I came back," she said of her COVID experience over Christmas break. "I think after all these experiences I've had, it's just really shed light on how fast the game can be taken away."
“She is our leader, the heartbeat of our team, and that part of it doesn’t always get votes,” Holsinger said, alluding to the fact Stiles was named second team all-league instead of first team this week. “It’s a big responsibility, and she’s been learning what that means all season.”
No one is a bigger fan of what Holsinger has done in the Garden City than Stiles. In fact, she has left the door ajar on coming back next season, saying she and Holsinger will sit down and have a chat when March madness comes to a close.
"He's very detail-oriented," Stiles said. "But I can't say it enough: The amount of confidence he instills in every single one of us is unmatched by any other coach I've ever had.
"That is really what it is. When you have him and three other coaches that sometimes believe in you more than you believe in yourself, it makes you feel like you can do anything."
There's also another aspect of Holsinger's personality that impresses Stiles.
"The one thing that always kept me steady was my faith," she said. "Even when times were trying, I always had God as my rock. Brian is a great man of faith. I've shared that with him. That's also contributed to this year."
https://missoulian.com/sports/college/big-sky-conference/university-of-montana/stiles-grace-lady-griz-senior-fights-through-hard-times-dazzles-in-montanas-stretch-run/article_b8de1c0d-3641-57ae-9578-0b5c5936c7ca.html#tracking-source=home-top-story
