TAYLOR MADE: Princeton University women’s basketball player Taylor Williams drives past a foe in a game earlier this season. Last Saturday, senior forward and tri-captain Williams chipped in six points, three rebounds, and two blocks in 10 minutes off the bench to help Princeton defeat Columbia 86-54. The Tigers, now 17-4 overall and 6-1 Ivy League, play at Yale (11-14 overall, 2-6 Ivy) on February 19 and at Brown (13-9 overall, 1-7 Ivy) on February 20. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

After the Princeton University women’s basketball team got off to a lackluster start in a 71-51 win over Cornell on Friday, the Tigers were determined to seize early momentum against Columbia a night later. 

“I would say we came out a little soft, we weren’t pushing,” said Princeton senior forward and tri-captain Taylor Williams.

“It is something the seniors took upon themselves with the four other seniors and Vanessa Smith. We really expressed getting off from the jump and pushing hard. We are one of the fastest teams and one of the best scoring teams and until we take advantage not only of our athleticism but our depth we have on the bench we are not going to get these big leads. In the huddle tonight before the game that’s something that we really focused on.”

As the first reserve off the bench, Williams gave the Tigers an immediate spark, knocking in two quick buckets as the Tigers went ahead 14-5.

“It is easy to follow when the first five start strong, the bench finds it easy to follow them,” said Williams, a 6’3 native of Warren, Ohio.

“It is just fulfilling my role. It is something I have grown into from finally playing sophomore year up until senior year. It is bringing things I can contribute every day, that is energy, that is enthusiasm, that is to bring up other teammates, whether we are down by five or up by 20. It is something I can be consistent on.”

Leading 38-24 going into the second half, the Tigers showed plenty of energy after the break as they outscored the Lions 30-13 in the third quarter on the way to an 86-54 rout before 1,682 at Jadwin Gym. The win, the 23rd straight home triumph for Princeton, improved the Tigers to 17-4 overall and 6-1 Ivy League.

“You can really tell the enthusiasm we have when we come into games and it is playing for each other, realizing that it is our Saturday game, the last game of the weekend,” said Williams, who ended up with six points, three rebounds, and two blocks in 10 minutes off the bench.

“Something we emphasize during practice is getting a sweep, getting both wins.”

With Columbia coming into the game as the second-highest scoring team in the Ivies, Princeton emphasized defense.

“I really think something that is so motivational for us is keeping the energy, even if it is not a very fluid offense that we are guarding,” said Williams, who helped Princeton hold Columbia to 30 percent shooting (15-for-50) for the evening.

“If we keep the communication up on the bench and the floor, that gets both our defense and offense going. You see with our defense when Wheats (Alex Wheatley) gets a big block and can run the floor and that no one can stop it and it gets our energy going.”

Williams saw the home sweep as a big plus for Princeton as it looks to keep pace with Penn (18-3 overall, 7-0 Ivy) in the league title race.

“Especially with our loss at Penn, every weekend is a chance to move forward and get better,” said Williams.

“Our league has taken a lot of steps from our freshman year. It is a brand new league since then. Every single team has gotten better, you go into every game knowing they can take you down.”

Serving as team captain along with classmates Wheatley and Annie Tarakchian has given Williams the chance to give more to the team in terms of leadership.

“It is an honor to me and stepping into a role and doing anything I can do for the team, whether it is bringing energy on the bench or energy on the floor,” said Williams.

“I would like to say I am the leader on the bench. I am the only senior who is on the bench so if I can keep them going, I will.”

Princeton head coach Courtney Banghart loves what Williams brings to the team.

“Taylor is all things right, all she wants to do is win,” said Banghart. “All she wants to do is understand anything she can do to help us do that and she is going to do it. She has always been leading with her voice and always leading with her heart but now she is also leading with her play. She is very efficient. She is a kid that wants to contribute to winning and she does. It is really great to see.”

Banghart enjoyed seeing her reserves come up big in the win against Columbia, as Kenya Holland scored 10 points with Taylor Brown and Qalea Ismail adding six points apiece.

“It just shows that our bench is so deep, we have gotten better there,” asserted Banghart.

“We have worked hard at that. It gives us different looks and different opportunities and different skill sets so it was a total team win. I think we got 38 points from the bench tonight.”

In Banghart’s view, her team is getting sharper as the season goes on. “It is getting better, especially in spurts,” said Banghart.

“I have such high standards that I do have to step back and realize how much they are doing. They have had such a great year and they have stayed focused on getting better. I see the holes and the opportunities we have to get better. They trust me to push them where they need to go.”

As Princeton plays at Yale (11-14 overall, 2-6 Ivy) on February 19 and at Brown (13-9 overall, 1-7 Ivy) on February 20, Banghart will be looking for more progress.

“What I will do is watch these two games and then I will prepare the week based on these two games and what our next steps are,” said Banghart.

“We don’t worry as much about the opponents, we worry about ourselves. There are ways we can improve in the quarter court and the full court. I think we are better defensively than we were a week ago so I think that is a good thing.”

Williams and her classmates are looking to make the most of their final weeks with the program.

“We have so many memories and jokes from being in the dining hall as freshmen, especially with the class from last year,” said Williams.

It is the five of us being together and when we look and realize we are halfway through the Ivies now and we only have three or four weeks left, it is bittersweet. Coming in we knew we were replacing Niveen Rasheed and Lauren Polansky and that crew and all of a sudden we are seniors and having six freshmen below us who are our replacements next year. It is such a crazy feeling.”