Fourth-year guard Taylor Randall knows how to score at the university level. A starter from her first year with the program in 2016-17 onward, she's been named a Canada West all-star each of the last two years, averaging just under 17 points per game during that span.

And while the Ontario native is still sinking baskets this year (look no further than her 17.1 points per game, which is eighth in the conference after 14 games), she has also grown immensely maturity-wise.  

Take the first weekend series against UBC Okanagan in early November for example. Randall didn't have the greatest shooting night to begin the series, going just 5-for-18 from the field. The following evening Randall made her first three baskets, but then missed seven of her next nine in a span between the end of the first and middle of the second quarters.

Instead of getting down on herself however, Randall displayed the poise of a leader while also contributing in different ways. Look no further than her six combined steals and seven assists over the two-game tilt for proof.

"She phenomenally led in areas that we've been getting her to try and lead for three to four years," Bisons head coach Michele Sung — a University of Manitoba alum at guard who went to the same high school in Ontario as Randall — noted after the second contest against UBCO.

"There was a time when nothing was flowing, and in the past, I think she would have been pretty internal and quiet and she kind of just rallied the troops and kept confidence and rallied the first years."

"I think it is a maturity thing," Randall added.

"Michele has worked with me right since I got in. She knows what I'm capable of and she just wants me to take a deep breath and say hey, yes, we need you to score, but you add so much more to the game. The baskets are going to come, so just don't force it and appreciate the other things that you're doing on the court."

Take a breath

Manitoba, who currently sit firmly in the playoff picture at 7-7, began the second half of the season on a four-game win streak. It's no surprise that Randall was key during that run, contributing just under 25 points per contest.

Once again, the versatile guard's maturity was on full display.

"Last weekend I didn't score the entire first quarter, and Michele was like 'in previous years I think you would've gotten super mad and yelled about it,' but this year I was like okay, I'll figure it out in the second quarter and let it come to me. It's been something we've been working on for four years and it's definitely taken a while but I think I'm getting there."

What's most impressive about Randall's scoring total wasn't the number however, but how she was able to adjust when teams tried to force her to drive left.

"This game is so scoutable, and especially being in my fourth year, everyone knows that oh, it's Taylor Randall from Manitoba. I'm very right-handed, they know exactly what I want to do," she says.

"My dad would always say to me, 'make sure that they're actually taking it away.' In previous years I'd be like oh, they're forcing me left, I can't go right and they're taking away my shot. My dad would be like 'just take a second,' and it made me realize, oh wait I actually still can go right or I actually still do have my shot. I tried to take a breath this year and catch it and go oh, I actually still can do what I want."

Stand on guard for thee

It's also important to remind fans that despite playing at the one for the last three seasons, Randall isn't a true point guard. She was a shooting guard in high school, but adjusted her game at the university level thanks in large part to her phenomenal basketball IQ.

"Point guard in our league requires so much depth in terms of your basketball intelligence," Sung says.

"I think it's tough when you haven't had the opportunity to learn that gradually. She played mostly at the two all of her career, so I think it's been a lot of pressure on her but I think it's given her an opportunity to address the big gaps in her game and leadership that we probably wouldn't have had to look at.

This season, Randall has had the pressure of manning the point taken off of her slightly due to the presence of three-time MHSAA provincial champion Lauren Bartlett. The impact rookie's contributions (averaging over double figures and two steals a game) have been felt by not just Randall, but also veteran forwards Emma Thompson and Addison Martin.

"For someone like me and Emma, and even Addison, it takes pressure off. I don't have to have the ball for 40 feet of the court, so I can work off ball and come off of screens and stuff like that. For someone like Addison she has someone who can draw people in and then there's room for little dump passes off. We've seen tons of that this year.

It's taken pressure off of a lot us and I love it. I was never a true point guard. I loved coming in and having the challenge like that, and it's nice because she can bring it up a couple of times and we can switch it up and I'll run the point. Or if she goes off I'll run the point. I'm still getting my taste of point guard, I didn't lose it completely, but it's definitely nice to have someone who can take some pressure off of all of us, not just me."