Take a glance at any photo of Taylor Lilley playing basketball and it’s almost guaranteed that her tongue will be peeking through her lips.
The trait is eerily similar to one made famous by a high-scoring guard who won six championships with the Chicago Bulls in the 90s. In practices, Lilley makes a move or hits a shot and “all of a sudden I’m noticing that my tongue’s sticking out for some reason.”
“I don’t know what it is, but Michael Jordan does that too so that’s OK,” she said.
Packing more oomph than her 5-foot-6 frame suggests, Lilley’s personality balances an easy-going individual who is quick to laugh off the court, but welcomes the chance to take game-deciding shots on the court.
Lilley realized coming into this season more of the scoring load was falling on her. Eleanor Haring, Carolyn Ganes and Cicely Oaks – all capable scorers from last season – were gone and in came six freshmen. Lilley grew accustomed to being a go-to scorer in high school, so she says she was prepared for the responsibility and the extra attention.
The Newhall, Calif. native has answered with 12.3 points a game on 41.2 percent shooting from the field. Lilley has reached double-figure scoring 18 times this season and posted 20 or more points six times.
Lilley used last spring and the summer to lengthen her shooting range and insert a dribble jumper into her repertoire.
Oregon’s win last Saturday against UCLA showcased how coach Bev Smith imagined her team playing with other players contributing and taking the defensive focus off of Lilley.
Smith compared it to Stanford’s team. Focus on Candice Wiggins and Jayne Appel hurts you down low. Focus on Appel and Wiggins hurts you from the perimeter. Focus on Wiggins and Appel and Kayla Pedersen and J.J. Hones are left open.
“You really need three or more weapons to keep defenses honest and I think we’re getting to that point, it’s just that we ran out of time a little bit,” Smith said.
Opponents have centered their defensive gameplans on shutting down Lilley, and Stanford was the most effective, holding her without a shot attempt in an 83-49 Oregon loss inside Maples Pavilion in January.
The extra attention, Lilley says, can be frustrating when she can’t get off shots and feel like she’s contributing, but when defenses lock in on her it creates openings for her teammates.
Big shots
Lilley makes it clear she welcomes being a go-to scorer.
“I might not be at that level yet but I feel like I have the mentality to be that player and I’m willing to be that player as well,” Lilley said. “I just have to learn from things from this year if I want to be that go-to player.”
The soft-shooter hit game-winning shots in high school for Hart High and gave a glimpse of that ability when she sank three three-pointers in the third round of last season’s Women’s National Invitational Tournament. The third triple tied Oregon’s game at Wyoming with 15.4 seconds left. The Ducks lost, 64-62, but it cemented Lilley’s clutch status.
“She’s never shied away from that,” Smith said. “A lot of people don’t step up and want that responsibility but she’s willing to take it and whether it goes in or it doesn’t she’ll give you your best shot. That’s incredible growth for her just in terms of her maturation.”
Lilley’s learning curve includes being able to move without the ball. She has been open for backdoor cuts, except there have been times when Lilley’s been open and Oregon’s young post players have missed her.
“As we get better, her moving without the ball is going to be rewarded,” Smith said.
Lilley, like teammate Micaela Cocks, puts in extra time after practices shooting the basketball and staying fit for the constant movement on the court.
“It’s just so much energy … mentally and physically because (Lilley’s) always got someone right up in her face so she’s always having to work that extra bit harder to get open,” Cocks said.
Creative personality
Lilley’s easy to spot with her constantly changing hairdo. Blond, brown and red hair have all been on display this season. Teammate Kaela Chapdelaine helped Lilley try out corn rows and this Saturday she might give the curly look a try.
“I like to change it up,” Lilley said. “I get bored after a while.”
Technically, Lilley, 20, born during a leap year on Feb. 29, 1988, turns five today. She usually celebrates her birthday on March 1 most years. That is one unique characteristic about Lilley, who enjoys dancing and did tap, jazz and ballet up until seventh grade.
Last year, she took a tap dance class. The musically inclined Lilley listens to music before games to help her relax and take her mind off basketball a little bit. On the court, the pep band’s rendition of “The Sweet Escape” by Gwen Stefani has Lilley wanting to whip out some dance moves.
“I get really hyped,” Lilley said of music’s impact. “The adrenaline really starts going in me.”
[email protected]