Working hard and doing the little things to make the team better are qualities that have long been the defining features of women鈥檚 basketball forward聽 (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge).
In the team鈥檚 last contest with Bridgewater College, Washington finished with career highs of 21 points and 20 rebounds en route to her fourth consecutive double double. In another recent key ODAC matchup, she scored 11 points and grabbed 13 boards in a 60-54 win over Randolph-Macon.
鈥淚t was a great feeling to come up with a win,鈥� Washington said. 鈥淚t wouldn鈥檛 have been accomplished if it wasn鈥檛 for my teammates and my coaches鈥� guidance believing in us to get the job done.鈥�
Largely due to her natural athleticism, Washington bases her game on speed and quickness. More times than not, she finds herself matched up with players who rely more on their height and size.
鈥淭he challenge for me is on the defensive end because my opponents are sometimes physically bigger than me,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his makes it harder for me to maneuver myself and get in a position without fouling.鈥�
In order to keep her strengths at the forefront of the speed versus height mismatches, Washington relies on mental toughness.聽 At practice, she works on post moves so that she can finish strong with contact and finish with an and-one.
鈥淪he鈥檚 learning each day how to be a post player and use her God-given abilities of speed and quickness in doing so,鈥� head coach Kevin Griffin said. 鈥淚 think her real strength is the ability to play hard for extended minutes. Where I think other people might get tired, she can continue to push.鈥�
Washington is averaging 26.5 minutes per game this season overall and 31.0 minutes in conference games.
Eastern Mennonite is currently tied for second with R-MC and Guilford College in the ODAC standings, each with a 5-2 conference record. Guilford happens to be EMU鈥檚 next opponent, with a big matchup Saturday in Greensboro, N.C.
Washington said the resiliency of her team has made their success possible.
鈥淒espite some things not going our way, we still manage to persevere and fight through the adversity to get where we are,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur program will continue to be successful because of that.鈥�
With 15 games played and nine to go, EMU鈥檚 women continue to find their groove and are at a good spot at 10-5 overall.
鈥淏y taking it game by game and practice by practice, we鈥檙e able to focus on the little details,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e lift each other up and push one another to get better, and our motivation is to finish and finish well.鈥�
Griffin echoed his player鈥檚 sentiments.
鈥淎s a coaching staff, we try to encourage the women that we鈥檙e going to show up one day at a time. We know that the light is at the end of the tunnel with the limited number of practices left,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e asking them to be present while we鈥檙e together. Mentally, physically, and emotionally.”
Along with being present in games and practice, the team has also adjusted to new players and personnel.
On a team made up of six upperclassmen and 14 underclassmen, the transition into season took time for each player to evaluate their role and what that means for the team.
鈥淲e came into this season as a young team with a large roster; however, we鈥檝e been steadily putting the pieces together and figuring out what works best,鈥� Washington said.
In the last four games, Washington averaged 14.3 points per game. On the season, she averages 11.5 points, up more than four points per game from last year.
鈥淪he just brings an energy, whether it鈥檚 in practice or games, that the team needs,鈥� Griffin said. 鈥淗er ability to play with energy is a real strength for us.鈥�
Off the court, Washington is an elementary education major, and hopes to teach either first or second grade after graduating from EMU.
鈥淚 also see coaching in the future, which would allow me to give back to the community that once helped me,鈥� she said.
EMU could no longer rely on Washington for occasional scoring outbursts. She is now the main source in the post. We spoke over preseason, and I told her you would have to take on a heavier burden and be a little selfish. As I watched her play, I knew that was not her type of nature. Washington, though, was obliged by Griffin鈥檚 request and became one of the go-to persons as EMU coalesced into a cohesive unit on its way trying to reach the ODAC鈥檚 and NCAA tournament for another time in the program鈥檚 year history. In addition, that has never more apparent than in the postseason where Washington (11.3 points per game) has led the Runnin鈥� Royals in scoring the last few games. Her best performance came January 16 against Bridgewater College in the conference game when she tallied a career-high 21 points in the 72-67 win. 鈥淲e knew her upside,鈥� Griffin said. 鈥淪he is a hard worker. As a freshman, she set the tone.鈥� I told her, you are in rare air. You have to keep on pushing. As of right now, she is hungry for a title. The season is looking good, but she is not satisfied yet. The hungrier you are as a player, the more crutch the team will be when coming together to make the final run. She is the spark of energy, leader, and heart of the team. Do not turn down the energy and effort now. The best is still yet to come.