Emily Orsini, Asst. Sports Editor–
Denison women’s basketball is taking the NCAC by storm, with an overall record of 13-4 and a 5-2 in conference record, making them a serious contender for the tournament title. For a mostly young team consisting of seven first-year athletes, this group of women has proved time and time again that they’re battle tested.
Who can be credited with the success of this break-through team? It’s hard to say, but one athlete that instantly stands out is Ada Taute.
Ada Taute, a freshman guard from Chicago, Illinois, has made an impact on this team and its success throughout the season. She’s started all eighteen games, averaging about 31 minutes per game as well as leading the team in points per game with an average of 12.1. Taute also was named the NCAC Defensive Athlete of the Week and given a spot on D3hoops.com Team for the week of Jan. 24. These numbers and accolades don’t appear magically— there’s a lot of work behind the scenes that gets you to perform at the level that Taute has been all season.
“I try to shoot around 500 shots outside of practice per week,” Taute explained when asked about her intense training regimen. “When I do have free time [outside of practice] I like to get in the gym and work on my shooting, especially threes and free throws.”
In the Big Red’s game against Oberlin on Jan. 20, Taute scored a career high of 23 points, accompanied by 11 rebounds and a 50% shot from three. Having games like these can get to an athlete’s head, but not Taute.
“There is always something to get better at,” Taute said with a serious look on her face. “You’re not going to be the best of the best after you win a game. There’s always something to work on and something to work towards.”
With an attitude like this, it’s easy to see how Taute is able to remain calm and motivated under the pressure of playing at the collegiate level. Being a great athlete is one thing, but having resilience and confidence is something that isn’t as attainable.
“I see myself as being more of a calm and controlled player. I tend to not overthink a lot of stuff until after the game, because during a game I usually just make a mistake, forget about it, and move onto the next play.”
Arguably one of the most challenging aspects of athletics is the mental aspect, with an athlete’s mindset being just as, if not more, important than their physical performance. Confidence is contagious on the court, especially when a team’s chemistry is as strong as it is for the Denison women’s basketball team. One of the most eye-opening moments for Taute involving the team’s connection this season was their game against Case Western in December.
“That was a really big game,” Taute explained. “They’re in a top conference and are a really good, ranked team. I remember Abbie Westmeyer hitting basically a game-winning three, and I had a moment where I was like, ‘this is crazy’. Something just unlocked in my brain about how much unmatched potential that we have and how far we could really go.”
Denison battled throughout the game, coming back from a 19 point deficit at half to eventually take a 52-51 victory. The energy in Livingston Gymnasium was electric, proving that this team has a lot of passion towards their sport.
When Taute was asked about how far she sees this team going, a smile erupted on her face.
“By seeing how open-ended this conference is and how teams are matching up against each other, it’s anyone’s game at this point. I feel like we still have so much to reach and get at, so it’s definitely possible for us [to win].”
This is more than a game to Taute and the Denison women’s basketball team— it’s an opportunity to accept a challenge that takes grit and perseverance. With success just an arms length away, anything is possible for this group of athletes. With Taute and her confident approach to the game as one of the driving forces of this team, a Big Red NCAC title is within reach.
“I only have three years left to play basketball, so why not make the most of it?”