After winning the tip-off, Natalia Ackerman ran to immediately to the low post. The team’s starting center called for the ball and in one dribble, she stepped through for an easy layup. This would be the first two of what would be a 29-point career-high outing against Cal State Bakersfield on Jan. 20.
The Cal Poly Women’s Basketball senior is one of the few holdovers who were in the program before the hiring of current head coach Shanele Stires. As the program has rapidly improved, Ackerman has improved with it.
Though her essential role on the team is now established, she endured tough setbacks in order to get here.
Ackerman missed her entire sophomore season due to a series of back injuries, including torn discs.
Being forced to watch her team from the sidelines was a tough experience, according to Ackerman. After spending so much time training and looking forward to the next year, it was all taken away.
Ackerman says her injury played a significant role in her jump from her first season to her third. After missing time, she responded by refusing to take another game for granted.
The Watsonville native is currently ranked second on the team in points per game, averaging 12 on a 58.8% shooting clip, the best field goal percentage in the conference. She also leads the team in blocks (2.0 per game) and rebounds (8.1 per game). In the midst of a career year, she reflected back on all the work she has done to get here – work that was only possible with the help of her parents.
“My parents have played a very big role in my athletic success,” Ackerman said. “They’ve been super supportive, taking me to all the AAU [Amateur Athletic Union] and travel games, everything I’ve ever needed to be successful.”
Ackerman’s father was a Division I basketball player, lacing up his shoes at Western Illinois. Her mom played both basketball and volleyball. Their support in coaching and encouragement helped the Aptos High School product through her basketball career, leading to her choice to continue playing at Cal Poly.
Ackerman had a quiet freshman season, averaging 1.9 points and 2.8 rebounds in about seven minutes of play per game. However, she showed flashes of the player she is today. In a game against UC Irvine, she scored a season-high 15 points on perfect shooting and 10 rebounds to secure the double-double.
She went into the offseason looking to build on these flashes, but her injuries derailed her progress.
“That summer I remember training really hard for my next year to be successful,” Ackerman said. “It was a really big setback.”
Following her injury setbacks during the summer, she continued rehabbing and training until she was cleared to play. Assistant coach Samba Johnson raved about her resilience in dealing with her back issues.
“She’s just a tough kid, that she’s been able to fight through all this adversity with her injuries, her body, and that she can continue to come out here and perform,” Johnson said.
The new regime came with the hiring of Stires, while Ackerman returned for the 2022-23 season. Johnson, coming along with Stires, saw Ackerman’s work ethic and the two developed a strong relationship.
“We have high expectations of each other, of me coaching her and her performing on the floor, so we kind of feed off each other,” Johnson said.
After being kept out for an entire season due to injury, the new season finally began. Ackerman played in the second game of the year, facing off against UCLA. Stepping on the court at Pauley Pavilion “meant the world” to her.
“That summer of training coming back after my injury, I put every ounce into that,” Ackerman said. “So just to be out on the court with my teammates and play with everybody, it meant everything.”
She would have a much bigger role under Stires in the 2022-2023 season, playing in 25 games and starting 12. She averaged 5.8 points per game and 6.1 boards, good for the top 10 in the Big West.
Though her growth is due to the increased time she was playing, Stires iterated that Ackerman’s opportunities weren’t just given to her. They were earned.
“Natalia is a very hard worker,” Stires said. “She’s very passionate about her game, and it’s very obvious when you watch her play what a contributor she is.”
Following the 2022-23 season, the team underwent big changes again. Much of the roster would graduate or transfer, leaving only a handful of players for the following year.
Now a senior, Ackerman is one of four returners on a squad with nine newcomers. Along with her teammates Annika Shah, Sydney Bourland and Sierra Lichtie, she’s had to assume a veteran role to the underclassmen.
“We have this fiery state, and we’ve really made an emphasis this spring to just bring that within our newcomers this season,” Ackerman said. “Annika and Syd Bourland are really good at giving that to everyone. I’m more of a lead-by-example person.”
Stires called her role pivotal, as the attention she draws frees up the perimeter players and creates more scoring opportunities. It’s no coincidence that the Mustangs are second in the conference in three-point field goal percentage.
Despite still dealing with back pain every day, she comes in with a smile on her face and ready to work and get better with her teammates – an attribute that Stires praises and admires.
“What more can you ask for?” Stires said.