The motto for this year's Illini women's basketball team is "We Mean Business."
After a successful sophomore season, Angelina Williams is poised and ready to show she means business in 2003-04. The junior is setting her goals high for herself and the team, in which she hopes to win a Big Ten championship, and go dancing once again in the NCAA Tournament, as the team did a year ago.
"Going to the tournament is something you dream of, and it was definitely exciting when we were able to go last year," said Williams. In Williams' sophomore year she topped the UI charts in numerous statistical categories. Besides leading the team in scoring with a 15.5 points per game average, she also led in blocks with 24 (tied with Karen Hagberg), and assists with 78.
Not only was Williams a statistical leader for the Orange and Blue, but she was among the best in the Big Ten as well. She finished 10th in conference play by dishing out 3.31 assists a game, sixth in the league by scoring 16.5 points per game in league games. Her outstanding season earned her Second Team All Big Ten (Coaches) and Third Team All Big Ten (Media) honors.
The inside and outside combination that Williams' game brings to the table is similar to another Chicago native, Scottie Pippen. Modeling Pippen's game, Williams has showed the Illini one of the few players in the country who can play a majority of the positions on the court. Besides leading the aforementioned statical categories for the Illini, Williams finished second and third, respectively, for the team in steals and rebounds.
"Scottie is an all-around player, and I feel like my game is similar to his," continued Williams. "I have some areas to work on, but I feel that I am pretty versatile and can play almost every position on the court. I feel that I understand the game well, and I think that sets me apart from other players."
Williams hopes her success last year will help to propel her to another break-out season. She has been working on all aspects of her game to improve so that she can help the team be one of the elite in the Big Ten and in the nation.
"Over the summer I worked on passing a lot as well as my handling to cut down on turnovers," Williams said. "I have also been working on being a leader, and maturing into the leadership role. I am trying to become more of a team player as well and get more of my teammates involved in the game."
After two years under her belt at Illinois, the team will be looking for Williams to be more of a director and role model for incoming Illini.
"Coach Grentz has taught me a lot about leadership," continued Williams. "She has also taught me presentation, and the importance of maturity in everything you do, and how to set examples for young people."
After her first two seasons, Williams has become a well-known face around the community. In one of her more remarkable feats, Williams dunked for the first time, which was recorded on videotape. After completing a sensational move, the crowd often yells for excitement from Williams. Many times at home games, the crowd will chant "Dunk It" when Williams has an open lane in the open court.
"It is pretty exciting that the fans are really into it," continued Williams. "However, after a long game it is pretty tough to go up and dunk the ball. Most of the time it probably won't happen if I have played a majority of the game."
With only two years left at Illinois, Williams will look to add to her already numerous memories. One of Williams' most memorable moments at Illinois came during her freshman year. In just her second and third games of her collegiate career, the Illini were able to win the St. Mary's Tournament by defeating James Madison, 85-45, and St. Mary's in the title game, 66-53. In the first game of the tournament Williams had nine points in 10 minutes en route to victory. This season Williams hopes to add to her array of memories to tell her grandkids.
