DOUBLE TAKE: Princeton University women’s basketball player Annie Tarakchian dribbles upcourt in recent action. Junior forward Tarakchian posted two double-doubles over the weekend, scored 16 points with 11 rebounds in a 104-33 win over Portland State on Friday and then contributing 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds last Sunday in an 84-53 victory at Monmouth. She was later named the Ivy League Co-Player of the Week along with Cornell’s Nia Marshall. The Tigers, now 13-0, are next in action when they take part in the Fordham Holiday Classic on December 29-30. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Although the Princeton University women’s basketball team was never challenged as it routed Portland State 104-33 last Friday night, Annie Tarakchian still got a lot out of the contest.

“Everyone is out there, trying to get better each and every day and playing for each other,” said Princeton junior forward Tarakchian, who scored 16 points and had 11 rebounds in the victory.

“That is what we really pride ourselves on, we play hard for our teammates  and our coaches. Obviously, we always look to get the W. In games like this I think we focus on what we need to progress on, looking further down the line when we play league and postseason games.”

The Tigers did achieve a milestone in the lopsided win as they hit the 100-point mark for the first time in program history.

“I think our freshman year we got to 99,” said Tarakchian, a 6’0 native of West Hills, Calif. “It is always fun to see triple digits up there.”

Tarakchian is having a lot of fun this winter, having nearly doubling her scoring and rebounding averages from last year, getting 11.0 points and 9.1 rebounds a game this season after averaging 6.1 points and 4.7 rebounds as a sophomore.

“I can’t really put a finger on it, I am playing the game that I love to play,” said Tarakchian, who scored 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds last Sunday in an 84-53 win at Monmouth as the Tigers improved to 13-0. “Whether I score three points a game or 15, it doesn’t really matter to me as long as we get the W.”

Tarakchian’s increased scoring production this winter is the product of some hard work over the offseason.

“I did train a lot this summer working on my shot, diversifying my shot because I play both post and guard,” said Tarakchian, who was later named the Ivy League Co-Player of the Week along with Cornell’s Nia Marshall. “I am just glad to see the ball go in and I hope it continues.”

In reflecting on her rebounding prowess, Tarakchian does what comes naturally.

“I just crash the boards every time and try to see where the ball goes,” said Tarakchian. “I get after it and a lot of times it comes to me, I don’t know why.”

Princeton head coach Courtney Banghart knows that she is getting some major production from Tarakchian.

“Annie is playing with a lot of confidence on the offensive end, she is having a lot of fun out there,” said Banghart.

“I still want more from her defensively. I don’t think she played her best game defensively today and we need her on both sides of the ball as we go into our run here. She is doing what we recruited her to do and that is to play fearlessly on offense, to rebound the ball, and to grow defensively. She is actually doing all of those three things really well.”

Banghart liked the way her team handled things as it surpassed the 100-point mark.

“I was pleased; it was pretty much a landslide most of the game and I thought our kids stayed pretty engaged,” said Banghart.

“It is not easy to do when you are up by 60. We were engaged, we had good energy on the defensive end. That is the sign of a good team.”

The win over Portland also marked a personal landmark for Banghart as it was the 150th win of her Princeton tenure.

“I was just saying I had no idea, I would have dressed up a little nicer,” said a grinning Banghart, whose record improved to 151-66 with the win over Monmouth.

“I didn’t know but as I think about it, it means that I am getting old. I probably remember the losses more.”

When asked whether her team was trying to make a statement to national pollsters with the margin of victory over Portland State, Banghart said that wasn’t part of her thinking.

“These are college kids, what they are supposed to be doing is playing for each other and the program and getting better,” said Banghart, whose squad is unranked nationally but is receiving votes in the AP poll.

“All I care about is did we get better every game. Delaware (an 87-59 win on December 16) was a challenging environment and without (Alex) Wheatley, we had to get deeper so we are getting better. When we play against a team in Portland that doesn’t give us any energy back, we have to dictate the tempo. We showed that we could tonight so I just like the growth that this young team is having.”

Tarakchian, for her part, feels that Princeton could grow into something very special this winter.

“The team goes out to fight every night,” said Tarakchian. “We are looking to grow offensively and defensively, individually and collectively. We have a really good group and it is a lot of fun to play with them and I am excited to see what comes.”