FIRING AWAY: Princeton University women’s basketball player Toby Nweke follows through on a shot in recent action. Last Friday, sophomore guard Nweke made her fourth career start and responded by scoring seven points with four rebounds, four assists, and two blocked shots to help Princeton defeat Penn 69-50. The No. 23 Tigers, now 19-2 overall and 7-1 Ivy League, play at Columbia in February 13 and at Cornell on February 14. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
Although Toby Nweke was making just her fourth career start as the Princeton University women’s basketball team hosted Penn last Friday, she was more than ready to step up.
“I just felt like the coaches had given me the confidence and my teammates have been giving me the confidence,” said sophomore guard Nweke. “I think this year I have been able to show a little bit of what I can do. I feel like each game I am just trying to build off the last one. So coming into this one, I felt like just do my job well, play good defense, knock down shots, and just take it like any other game.”
After trailing 30-28 at halftime, the Tiger defense picked up the intensity in the second half, stifling the Quakers as they held them to 13 points in the third quarter and just seven in the fourth on the way to a 69-50 win. The win improved No. 23 Princeton to 19-2 overall and 7-1 Ivy League.
“I think when we came back into the locker room after the second quarter, we were not very happy with how we were playing,” said Nweke. “I think in the last few minutes we let up a couple of points. We got to the locker room and we just thought we are going to turn it up defensively, make good passes, and make good reads on offense. We were kind of taking rushed shots so taking the right shots allowed us to play and set up good defense.”
Nweke played well as she ended up scoring seven points with four rebounds, four assists, and two blocked shots.
“I just thought today, my teammates were open and I was able to find them,” said Nweke. “One thing coach (Carla Berube) told me to do was just rebound. Sometimes I let my posts get that, but it was always crashing on every shot, trying to see if I can track the ball as it is coming out of the net. I am going to have to bring my best every single game and just be super confident in everything I do and just try my best. That is what I tried to do today.”
With one college season under her belt, Nweke has raised her game at both ends of the court.
“I would say my shotmaking ability,” said Nweke, a 5’10 native of Woodbine, Md. who is now averaging 6.1 points a game, up from 2.7 points a game as a freshman. “I feel like last year I could shoot but this year I have shown I am a consistent shooter. It is also my defense. I think its just being able to defend every team’s best player and stay super disciplined in our Princeton defense here. That is something I have been able to improve on.”
Princeton head coach Carla Berube liked the way her team’s defense improved against Penn in the second half.
“It wasn’t anything we talked about at halftime other than let’s play the way we are capable of playing,” said Berube. “I think part of that great defense is that you are taking good shots on the offensive end. Penn was getting out in transition on us because we were turning the ball over and we were not taking a great shot. Offensively we took care of it. We found open players, we got good shots. We made some shots and they weren’t able to get out until transition. I thought we did a good job of defending their actions and talking and switching where we needed to and helping each other.”
Despite wearing a large brace on her knee that she tweaked against Columbia, senior guard Madison St. Rose excelled in the win over Penn, scoring 15 points on 7-for-13 shooting.
“I thought Maddie did a good job of getting into the paint,” said Berube. “Nothing structurally went wrong in the Columbia game. She is feeling good. Offensively she found some good looks at the rim and in the paint where she is great She got her pull up going a little bit so it was great to have her back on the court.”
Junior guard/forward Olivia Hutcherson continued her recent surge, scoring a game-high 19 points with seven rebounds and five steals.
“She was incredible on both ends of the floor and we have seen that this whole season, how important she is,” said Berube of Hutcherson. “She had a great season last year and then she puts in the work. Her shot looks better this year. She is able to get to her mid-range pull up and that looks good. She hit one tonight. She has been one of our most consistent players.”
The insertion of Nweke into the starting lineup gave the Tigers a spark.
“She got on the offensive glass for us, she got huge rebounds,” said Berube. “Her defense on [Mataya] Gayle was great. She hit a huge 3-pointer in the corner. She made some great plays. Her game keeps elevating and with her confidence, she is a real threat out there.”
The Tigers will look to elevate their game as they play at Columbia on February 13 looking to avenge a 73-67 loss to the Lions on January 30 and then head to Cornell on February 14.
“I am looking forward to next Friday absolutely,” said Berube.
“After that game, we certainly felt like we didn’t play our best. We are excited to get back to work on Monday. I am excited for the week ahead. It is always tough going to Columbia and then going all the way up to Cornell but looking forward to both of those challenges.”
In Nweke’s view, Princeton needs to set the tone early in order to have a big weekend in New York.
“We know we are going to see every team’s best so coming in, it is starting off hot; it is something we have been trying to harp on this whole year,” said Nweke. “I feel like especially in the past couple games, we have come out with a rough start so it is trying impose our will and not let ourselves get dominated, especially in the beginning of the game. I am excited to get them again next week and see how it goes.”