STEPPING UP: Princeton University women’s basketball player Tia Weledji dribbles the ball in recent action. Last Friday, junior guard Weledji scored 12 points and had four steals in 21 minutes of action off the bench as Princeton defeated Rutgers 64-34 to earn their first win after four straight losses to start the season. The Tigers, who topped UMBC 69-58 last Sunday in improving to 2-4, host Seton Hall on November 30. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Coming into the season, the Princeton University women’s basketball team needed Tia Weledji to be tougher on the court.

Having been in the background as a reserve for the first two years of her career, soft-spoken junior Weledji was assuming a leading role for the Tigers.

“Tia is a strong athlete but she is pretty gentle,” said Princeton head coach Courtney Banghart.

“We asked her to be more aggressive so she was doing what I told her to. Now she is more aggressive because it is helping us win the game.”

Last Friday against visiting Rutgers, the 5’10 Weledji showed that aggression at both ends of the court, scoring 12 points with three rebounds and four steals as the Tigers routed the Scarlet Knights 64-34 to earn their first win of the season and snap a four-game losing streak.

In reflecting on her performance, Weledji said it was the product of getting into a rhythm on the court.

“It was a matter of feeling more comfortable and feeling the flow of the game, knowing where my teammates are, what lanes I have,” said Weledji, a native of Overland Park, Kan. “Just playing together, definitely helps everybody look for their own shot.”

Having taken a supporting role on NCAA tournament teams in her first two years with the Princeton program, Weledji has gained some valuable experience.

“We have definitely learned from those who have come before us and we definitely want to carry on the legacy they have left,” said Weledji.

“I think just knowing that motivates us to take what they have left and go on, expand and use it and see what we can to keep making this program bigger and bigger every day. Just watching what those performing have done and knowing what to do to come on and fill the role that I now have gives me the confidence.”

Breaking into the win column was a confidence builder for a team whose main focus has centered on daily improvement.

“It is what we have been striving for since the season started,” said Weledji, reflecting on the triumph.

“Our coach has really driven into us, the phrase win every day and that is what we do. No matter the outcome we just want to know that we have won that day. That has what we have been doing and it was nice that we got that win today.”

With Princeton having dropped two nailbiters heading into the Rutgers game, falling 62-56 in overtime to Dayton on November 19 and 66-62 at Delaware three days later, the Tigers were primed for a breakthrough.

“That was a motivation for sure because we knew we should have had those games,” added Weledji.

“We had a certain mindset that we needed to come out and play together and things would fall right.”

Princeton head coach Banghart was confident that things would fall into place for her club.

“This team has gotten better and better every single game; it wasn’t like bad, and good and bad again, it has been step by step,” said Banghart.

“It was just a matter of time until we could put it all together. We are not there yet but we are much better than we have been.”

In assessing her team’s play against Rutgers, Banghart liked the way the Tigers put things together at both ends of the court.

“It was a really good defensive effort, the kids have bought into that end,” said Banghart.

“We have been focusing on the offensive end; trying to help our guys shoot with a little more confidence and create better looks for themselves and each other. That is the end I think they are really growing on.”

Princeton showed further growth last Sunday as it defeated UMBC 69-58, hitting a program single-game record of 14 3-pointers on the way to a second straight win.

“I know they are really coachable, they really want to be good,” said Banghart, who got a career-high 19 points from junior Kenya Holland against UMBC as she drained five 3-pointers.

“There is a sense of trust. I have asked them to get better every day and their sense of purpose in practice is high, win or lose. I think they have committed totally to the end game.”

In Banghart’s view, that long-term commitment will yield dividends as the season unfolds.

“What is fun for me is that the team isn’t where it needs to be yet; they don’t think they are and that’s what’s great,” added Banghart, whose team hosts Seton Hall on November 30.

“They feel like we will get there. So tomorrow’s practice, they won’t care that they had a game the night before. They will be totally ready and that has been one of the more enjoyable things to coach.”

Weledji, for her part, believes the win over Rutgers is a big step in the right direction.

“To watch the locker room after the end of the game, it was so exciting, so motivating,” said Weledji. “If we just keep taking steps forward, we will definitely get where we need to be.”