BC’s Soule big on the boards
Forward finding more consistency
Size, skill and attitude are the requisites for rebounding in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Boston College 5-11 power forward Taylor Soule possessed the size and the technique when entered the rough and tumble of Power-5 Conference basketball in the fall of 2018.
The sophomore from West Lebanon, N.H., experienced her attitude adjustment this offseason and is now a boards member in good standing with the ACC.
Soule expects another tough night in the paint when the Eagles (9-7, 2-3) host No. 5 Louisville (16-1, 5-0) tonight (7 p.m.) at Conte Forum.
“I think light bulb just clicked,” said Soule. “I was talking with all our coaching staff last year. They tried to drill in my head that my job is to rebound along with other things. But after a while, they could only tell me so many times and this last summer, especially after the light bulb clicked, I realized we are going to win games when I’m getting rebounds.”
Consistent rebounding had not been an Eagles strong point in recent years but that has changed this season. BC is 5th in the ACC with 715 rebounds in 17 games for a 42.1 per game average. Soule is the team leader with 7.4 rebounds per game, an average that has steadily increased with her assertiveness in the paint.
“I think the biggest thing is reacting when it happens and not a second after, especially now into ACC play where everything happens quickly,” said Soule. “When we’re on offense I think it is easier to rebound personally only because of when and who is going to shoot the ball. It doesn’t matter if you are a girl 5-2 playing against a girl 5-10 it’s more about heart and hustle than anything else.
And, it’s not always about you getting the rebound if you can block out for the girl next to you.”
Soule leads the team in scoring with a 12.8 points per game with three doubledoubles, which she achieved with 14 points and 10 boards in last Sunday’s 69-52 home loss to Virginia.
Soule has reached double digits in scoring 10 times and on the boards six times. She is the first player since Carolyn Swords in 2011 to tally double figures in rebounds in five straight games. Soule averaged 7.9 points and 3.9 rebounds in 30 games last season.
BC coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee is delighted by Soule’s numerical upgrades. But Bernabei-McNamee equally values the intangibles Soule brings to practices and games.
“You see her athleticism and her temperament is really special and you see her at practice always firing up her teammates,” said
Bernabei-McNamee. “She is that consummate leader that never gets down. She just has that go get it mentality that picks everybody up and keeps them playing together. That what I love about her, she’s a natural born leader.”
Soule played scholastically at Kimball Union where she was a three-time NEPSAC
Class C All-Star. But Soule’s fast track to the ACC was facilitated by playing for coach Scott Hazelton with the Mass. Rivals AAU program.
Soule was recruited by former coach Erik Johnson and she had second thoughts when Bernabei-McNamee took the job.
“When I first found out I took a step back to see what my options were and I actually went on visit to Rutgers,” said Soule. “When I did that, I got a text from Coach Mac and she just wanted to know the whole insight. Automatically I felt comfortable that she wanted me at Boston College.”