Sophomore guard Dominique Sims is emerging as a vocal leader and key player for the women’s basketball team.

Sims scored 13 points and grabbed 9 boards in 70-52 against Loyola of Chicago on Friday night.

Sims started the season on the bench, but the versatile sophomore’s ability to play as a guard and in the post has made her a fixture in the Panthers starting lineup.

Sims is third on the team in points, with 11 per game, and second on the team in rebounds, with 5 per game.

Eastern women’s basketball head coach Brady Sallee said Sims always had the ability to start.

“She always had the talent,” Sallee said. “She just had to learn the system and learn the expectations that we have. We needed to shake things up and I think were starting to get in sync with our change. For us, it’s not about who’s starting; it’s about who’s contributing.”

The sophomore is not just contributing with points and rebounds, but is fast becoming a leader of the Panther team.

Sophomore forward Maggie Kloak said Sims must be a key player for the Panthers if they want to be successful.

“Dominic is a key player,” Kloak said. “She is very talented, has a ton of heart and is a great presence whenever she is on the court. She can do a lot.”

Sims said the reason she is successful as a forward and a guard is because of her experience in high school.

“As a freshman, I was the tallest girl on the team, so I had to play post,” Sims said. “My junior year, my coaches moved me to guard, so I had to start working on my dribbles and my handles.”

Sims said she preferred to play guard as opposed to playing down low.

“I like guard better because you can move around more, and you’re not just on the block,” Sims said.

Sallee said he thinks she is successful at both positions because of her length and athleticism.

“She’s got great length, and we needed that for our program,” Sallee said. “She is great down low because she has long arms and great athleticism.”

Although an underclassman, Sims is not only a leader with her play on the court, but also vocally during games and practice.

“She is a great defender, and definitely picks us up when we are in a lull,” Kloak said. “She picks us up when we need her.”

Sims did so on Friday, Kloak said, by hitting big shots towards the end of the game. A couple of threes sealed the victory.

Sallee said her play on the offensive glass ignited the team in the victory against Bradley.

“She helped from the point and rebound standpoint definitely,” Sallee said. “She really stepped her game. She was able to establish herself on the offensive glass early, and our team really fed off of that.”

Kloak said Sims is always trying to keep her teammates up.

“Whenever I miss a shot, she always tells me to stay up and that she will keep looking to get the ball to me,” Kloak said.

Sallee said Sims has become more vocal as she has become more comfortable the team.

“She’s always had that leadership quality in her,” Sallee said. “I think that once she became more comfortable, it allowed her to open her mouth and be more vocal.”

Sims said coach Sallee is a reason she has been more vocal.

“Basically, Coach is always telling us to talk and keep each other up during practice,” Sims said.