Written by Emma Weber // Photo by Macy Cox
Competing for the Lady Bisons Basketball team is an achievement in itself. However, for freshman Josie Williams, this achievement is made special by her young age and determination. When looking for a college, Williams said she knew she wanted an atmosphere that would inspire her to grow.
“When I was in the recruiting process, I was not just looking for the best fit on the basketball court, I was looking for a program with great coaches and players that provide a strong family aspect,” Williams said. “I was looking for coaches that invested in their players and teammates that became sisters, and Harding has provided all of these things.”
In Williams’ highest scoring game against Texas Women’s University, Williams made 26 points, 15 being three-pointers. Throughout the season, Williams has averaged 10.7 points and 31 minutes per game.
Women’s head coach Tim Kirby described the talent and grit Williams has as a freshman starter. He attributes this to Williams’ knowledge of the game as well as the team atmosphere.
“Josie is a basketball player in every way,” Kirby said. “She understands how to use her instincts. Being a point guard adds to the difficulty of adjusting to college basketball, and she has done a great job navigating that. Everything we do in season and off season requires being a great teammate. They are all very supportive of each other.”
As a team sport, Williams agreed that the atmosphere has contributed to her season successes.
“The relationships I have made through just my first season playing at Harding have definitely been a huge part of this year for me,” Williams said. “We strive to build each other up each and every day. We are a good team, and this year we have learned to depend on each other on and off the court. It’s very important to keep each other motivated to be the best version of our team on the court.”
Fellow freshman Katelyn Kabrich highlighted the importance of mental fortitude for freshman players.
“Some challenges freshmen face would be having confidence that you can make a difference on the court when you are playing with girls who have played college basketball for two-plus years,” Kabrich said. “The biggest part about being a freshman is having an open mind that is willing to accept criticism and learn from it. Knowing that at the end of the day we are playing for each other motivates us to push each other harder in a loving way. It’s easier to run hard when you’ve got girls by your side that want to get better and win as much as you do.”
Despite the challenges, Williams said she tries to find balance. Balance, in Williams’ opinion, is essential to competing at the highest level.
“I want to be my very best on the basketball court but also in the classroom,” Williams said. “I’ve spent the majority of this year trying to find the perfect balance of that. We spend a lot of time as a team on the court. I also put in extra time shooting and watching film on my own. I seek good communication with my coaches. I spend time before and after games to get ready to play and recover my body well afterwards.”
