Sophie Bikofsky ’15 has been a leader on the women’s basketball team since day one. Last weekend, she scored a career-high 23 points as she led the Bears to a 64-52 win over Saint Peter’s College, a performance that earned her the title Ivy League Co-Player of the Week.
The junior guard, who hails from Newton, Mass., has started all three games so far this season and is the team’s leading scorer. Bikofsky’s ability to net shots from behind the arc has been impressive, and she currently holds a conference-best 10-for-17 for three-pointers.
For her sharp shooting skills in leading the Bears, Bikofsky has been named The Herald’s Athlete of the Week.
Herald: When did you start playing basketball?
Bikofsky: Ever since I was really little. I always played a bunch of sports through my elementary years, like soccer and lacrosse, and then I started to really focus on basketball in seventh grade.
Why did you choose Brown?
I fell in love with the girls and the coaching staff, and the school is amazing. … I’m also close to home, and I’m really close with my family so that was a big factor.
What are you concentrating in and why?
Community health — I’m not really sure exactly what I want to do with it, but I am really interested in the field, and my mom is a nurse.
Do you find balancing academics with athletics challenging?
I definitely think you have to find that balance, but once you find it, you know you only have certain amounts of time to do your work because you have practice or a game or you have to sleep. I definitely have it down by now, but at the beginning it was definitely hard.
How was the game against Saint Peter’s, scoring so many points and leading the team to the win?
It was really cool and fun. It was great that we won. … It was our first team win, so that was huge. We played well as a team, and we won last night, too, so it’s been a really fun season so far and hopefully it will just keep going.
Would you want to continue playing basketball after college?
I played in the Maccabiah Games this summer, which is in Israel. A few of my former teammates play overseas now in Israel professionally so that seems like a cool opportunity. … I love the country. It would be a cool option if it presented itself.
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
Yes, we have a ton of team ones. We chant certain things at certain periods of our warm-up and in the locker room. And I always take a nap in between pre-game meal, which is always four hours before our game, and the game.
What are your interests off the court?
I ... volunteer at Hasbro’s Children Hospital once a week in the pediatric oncology clinic, so that’s been really fun. I love hanging out with my friends, baking, being with my family, shopping and just relaxing.
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