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Alexandra Stelfox: Liepāja is like my second home!

25.03.2014
Alexandra Stelfox. Photo: Mārtiņš Sīlis

Center Alexandra Stelfox is one of the six foreign players who play in the Nordea Basketball league this season. Grand Valley State University graduate is living her dream while representing the Vega 1/Liepāja team (17-7, second round 11-1).

 

Let`s start with the March Madness. Which are your favorite teams and are they still in?

My favorite women`s team obviously is Maryland, because I`m from Maryland. I got the chance to work with them past summer and got to know them. They advanced to the second round on Monday night after beating Army by almost 40 points (90-52). So, they are still in!

 

I like UConn – University of Connecticut – as well. Both teams, men and women. On the men`s side I really enjoy watching Louisville. They are a really athletic team.

 

Rick Pitino team.

Right. And they are all in as well.

 

Actually, Louisville is playing Kentucky next.

I am pro-Louisville. Let`s see what happens.

 

Does it mean you are staying up late?

(Laughs) We had two days off this weekend, so I`ve been able to stay up longer. Until midnight or 1am and then I went to the bed. I can stay up until 3 or 4am but it`s tough.

 

Have you filled a bracket?

I only did the women`s bracket this year. I haven`t been following the men`s game as much. I`m watching only the Terps (Maryland) all season long.

 

Are you having more fun in the second part of the season?

The first part of the season was hard. This is my first time when I play overseas. It takes time to get to know new culture and people. To learn how to get around. Second half is a much different. Liepāja is like my second home now. I have enjoyed it and I`m more comfortable with my teammates. They have been able to show me around. I like that!

 

Are you a big city girl?

Actually not. I have been living in a suburb outside Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. I like the city and the things it offers. Liepāja is a small city. I can get around pretty easily by foot which is something I`m not used to. I`m more used to driving somewhere but I like to walk around. It`s good for me instead of driving everywhere.

 

You said that you are used to get around. Does it mean you are not bored anymore?

Sometimes there are days when I am lonely and bored but it doesn`t happen often. The girls showed me around, we go to the movies and out. So I`m not as bored as I was in the first half of the season.

 

Play-offs start this week. Are you excited to go up against the best teams?

Finally! We were much better than those teams we met in the second round, beating some of them by 40-60 points. It`s been really hard so I`m really excited to meet the challenge. I`m a little bit nervous because we haven`t played with the best teams for so long. I hope we are ready and I`m looking forward.

 

 

Tune in on Thursday, March 27, and follow the game between Vega 1/Liepāja and Audentes live on Sportacentrs.com and WBBL.eu. Tip-off at 17:30 (EST 11:30am).

 

Game link: http://sportacentrs.com/sportacentrs_tv/live/24032014-ceturtdien_17_30_nbl_vega_1_liepaja_auden