SISTER ACT: Princeton University women’s basketball player Toby Nweke puts up a shot last Saturday against Dartmouth. Freshman guard Nweke scored a career-high 10 points to help Princeton defeat the Big Green 63-39. Nweke is following in the footsteps of her older sister, Chet ’24, who emerged as a key performer for the Tigers, helping Princeton to win three Ivy League titles. Princeton, which fell 58-50 at Columbia on Monday night to move to 12-5 overall and 3-1 Ivy League, plays at Cornell on January 25. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Having been first exposed to the Princeton University women’s basketball team as an 11-year-old, Toby Nweke has been dreaming for years about joining the program.

Nweke started attending games to watch her older sister, Chet ’24, who emerged as a key performer for the Tigers, helping Princeton to win three Ivy League titles.

As a result, Nweke decided that she wanted to follow in her sister’s footsteps.

“My sister is definitely my biggest role model, she is my best friend,” said Nweke. “She just always empowers me.

After starring at Georgetown Visitation Prep, Nweke ended up joining the Princeton program this year.

“I always knew that I wanted to go here especially with the winning culture and the campus, everything is super nice,” said Nweke, a 5’9 native of Woodbine, Md. “I think the first time I set foot on it for myself was my first visit junior year and I just felt super comfortable. I felt like this was the right place for me.”

Last Saturday, Tiger freshman guard Nweke was in the right place at the right time, tallying a career-high 10 points to help Princeton roll to a 63-39 win over visiting Dartmouth before a crowd of 1,111 at Jadwin Gym.

With sophomore guard Fadima Tall sidelined by illness, Nweke sensed she would have a greater role in the contest with the Big Green.

“I feel like with Fadima out, I knew that I was probably going to have a little more opportunities today,” said Nweke. “Dartmouth has kind of a smaller lineup so I knew sometimes I could elevate and shoot over them. I knew to take advantage of the mismatches.”

Nweke was on target against Dartmouth, hitting 4 of 6 shots from the floor, including 2 of 4 from 3-point range.

“I had a weird feeling today, my shot felt really good,” said Nweke. “Even in shootaround I just felt very comfortable.”

Acknowledging that she hadn’t gained a comfort level early in her debut season for the Tigers, Nweke got some encouragement from her sister.

“In the beginning of the season, when I was feeling pretty shaky, she always let me know that I am a great player and I can do whatever,” said Nweke. “She just gives me confidence.”

While her sibling was more of an inside player, Nweke excels from the perimeter.

“Ever since I was young, I always loved shooting,” said Nweke.

“In high school, that was my main thing. I think coming here a big part of our offense is making outside shots. I knew when I was coming here all I could do was prepare my shot and get it as ready as possible. I have been getting in the extra reps in practice.”

Putting that work into practice, Nweke has learned to pick her spots.

“I have been taking advantage of the defense,” said Nweke. “I notice that sometimes the defense is sitting back on me and they are not putting their hand up so I know that I have been able to knock down those shots. It is just trusting in myself to be able to do that.”

Princeton head coach Carla Berube liked the defensive effort she got from her players in stifling the Big Green.

“It was good overall, there were times where it could have been better,” said Berube, whose team led 14-7 after the first quarter. “It is a work in progress. For the most part, I think we did a great job in executing the defensive game plan.”

Junior forward Taylor Charles helped spark that effort with career highs in rebounds (7) and blocked shots (5).

“That is what we see from Taylor, she had the opportunity today,” said Berube of Charles, who also matched her career-high with nine points. “I have a lot of confidence in her. She stepped up with Fadima out. I am really proud of her game today.”

Berube was also proud of Nweke’s performance. “That is Toby too, she is certainly a great 3-point shooter,” said Berube. “She gets her feet ready so quickly with eyes to the rim at all times and lets it fly. I thought she did a good job defensively too. So it was a great all-around game for Toby, just gaining confidence as a first year.”

The play of the team’s twin towers, 6’4 junior forward Tabitha Amaze and 6’4 senior forward Parker Hill, gives the Tigers confidence. Against Dartmouth, Amanze tallied eight points with 11 rebounds and three blocked shots with Hill contributing four points, four rebounds, and one blocked shot.

“It is fun to put them in there together a little bit,” said Berube. “They can crowd each other a little bit in terms of that so it is nice to have our four (power forward) as a 3-point shooter just to create a little more space. Tabby had a great day, I thought she played really well at both ends. She made blocks and did a great job defensively. I feel really good when she is 1-on-1 in the post, she makes really good decisions with the ball. I love playing Parker and Tabby together a little bit.”

Coming off a 7-0 homestand, the Tigers stumbled last Monday night, falling 58-50 at Columbia in moving to 12-5 overall and 3-1 Ivy League.

Heading into the clash with the Lions, Berube knew her team faced a big test.

“We love playing at home, hopefully it gives us a little jump into Monday and the next couple of weekends,” said Berube, whose team plays at Cornell on January 25. “We are excited for the challenge of going up to Columbia on Monday. They are playing great basketball as we have all seen. They are a little bit different, we are a little bit different.”

In Nweke’s view, the Tigers were in a good place in the wake of the undefeated homestand.

“Being able to win all of the games was really important for us to move on to this away stretch we are having right now,” said Nweke. “We feel super confident in how we are doing and bring that to every game.”