BOUNCING BACK: Princeton University women’s basketball player Kenya Holland dribbles up the court in a game earlier this season. Last weekend, junior guard Holland returned to action after undergoing a knee operation in December and starred off the bench as Princeton defeated Dartmouth 85-55 on Friday and then edged Harvard 63-58 in overtime a day later. The Tigers, now 9-9 overall and 3-2 Ivy League, play at Cornell on February 10 and at Columbia on February 11. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

While the Princeton University women’s basketball team was excited to return to action from its two-week exam break as it hosted Dartmouth last Friday, nobody was happier than Kenya Holland.

Junior guard Holland injured her knee against Fordham on December 10 and had it operated on a week later, sidelining her ever since.

“It was amazing,” said Holland. “I have been waiting so long to get back.”

Holland, a 5’8 native of Stafford, Va., took advantage of the break to get up to full speed.

“I recovered a lot faster than expected but having that long break where we weren’t playing was good,” said Holland.

“While we were practicing I could watch and rehab and then start practicing with the team without any games. It was helpful.”

Against Dartmouth, Holland entered the game midway through the first quarter and ended up hitting a pair of three-pointers as Princeton took a 17-14 lead into the second quarter.

“It was a lot of adrenaline; I just came in and I wanted to play hard for my teammates,” said Holland.

“I have been watching them for so long and I wanted to contribute and do the things I was seeing when I wasn’t playing. My teammates were cheering me on the whole time. They have been really supportive while I was rehabbing and recovering. I was really excited to be on the court today.”

The Tigers broke the game open in the second quarter, outscoring the Big Green 27-12 on the way to
an 85-55 rout.

“I think we all just dialed in defensively; that is something we have been really focusing on in the break,” said Holland.

“I think tonight everybody gave 100 percent effort. We were aggressive, we were talking; we were getting in passing lanes. We were getting our hands on the ball.”

On the offensive end, Princeton showed its depth as 12 players scored in the victory with freshman star Bella Alarie tallying 14 to lead the way.

“We had a lot of contributions from the bench; really everybody was dialed in today,” said Holland, who contributed six points and a steal in 14 minutes of action.

“With me and Jordan Muhammad both healthy again, we felt more whole again. I think that really pumped us up to get out there and play hard.”

Holland, who came into the weekend averaging 5.4 points a game, is looking to make a big contribution for the Tigers now that she is back in action.

“I have been out for a little while and I have seen things that I probably would not have seen if I was on the court,” noted Holland.

“I have a better idea of what I can contribute. I want to keep doing whatever I can when I am in the game.”

For Princeton head coach Courtney Banghart, the game against Dartmouth proved to be particularly memorable as it marked her 200th win in her tenure guiding the Tigers.

“I have been here a long time and I have had a lot of good players,” said Banghart, a former standout at Dartmouth who served as an assistant coach there before coming to take the helm at Princeton.

“Obviously it is my alma mater. It is sweeter, especially here in my new home. It is special. This is my team. It is alumni weekend too so tomorrow so many people will be back.”

The return of Holland was sweet for the Tigers. “Kenya is an important piece of this team with her play and her leadership and I think the team feels better now that she is back,” asserted Banghart.

“To have someone who we know can contribute and understands how we play and has the toughness and fearlessness that this team was missing a little bit without her. We tried to get through the first league weekend without her. We came out .500 which is OK. I expect us to be better with Kenya back and we are.”

In Banghart’s view, Holland made a big impact on the defensive end.

“I think her being on the floor is partly why we were so good defensively,” said Banghart.

“People felt Kenya is back we have a defensive expectation. We were hoping that she would be back by now. We worried that it would be a little bit too soon but she is strong, poised, fit, and ready.”

The Tigers played strongly on defense all evening, holding the Big Green to 40 percent shooting (20-of-50) from the floor.

“Defensively we are faster and we are sharper, we communicate more, we have really dialed into that end,” said Banghart.

“We are playing on that end if it matters more than anything else. Tonight we just pounced on them defensively with our energy, effort, and communication.”

Princeton was energetic on offense, hitting 33-of-68 shots, including 12-of-26 from 3-point range.

“I think also we have honed our offensive package and we have added a lot of new things,” said Banghart.

“As I think about late game with our reserves and the ability to execute and understand where they need to be and being aggressive off the dribble for other people. Those are things we have really stressed in the offense. I think we have really gotten better on both sides of the ball.”

Producing the rout over Dartmouth was a good way for Princeton to start the homestretch of the season.

“Our kids are young enough and they need to see that, oh right, we are really good,” said Banghart.

“I hope they were able to see on both sides of the ball the things that this team can do.”

A night later, the Tigers showed how good they can be as they edged a formidable Harvard team 63-58 in overtime to improve to 9-9 overall and 3-2 Ivy League.

“It is a chance for us to set the tone and show how we are going to play,” said Banghart in looking ahead to the matchup with the Crimson.

“We have had their number for a lot of years now. Princeton across our chest is something that a lot of people like to play so we are looking forward to having this new version of our team. That might not have been a game that I would have looked forward to two months ago, now I do very much.”

Holland, for her part, sensed that Princeton was going to keep playing well in the wake of the win over Dartmouth.

“We are excited; we haven’t gotten a sweep yet,” said Holland.

“Coach just mentioned that in the locker room. We are hungry and we want to come out and play as hard as we did tonight. We don’t want to let up at all.”