Tracking down Ta’Kenya Nixon has not been easy for opponents this season.

The freshman guard for the Eastern women’s basketball team gives defense fits because of her skill, athleticism and mainly, her competitiveness.

Nixon illustrated that last week, first finishing with a double-double (16 points, 17 rebounds) at Eastern Kentucky and then driving to the lane in the waning moments against Morehead State and helping engineer the game-winning basket for her teammate.

Nixon has sparked Eastern on both ends of the floor, but does it all with composure, something Eastern head coach Brady Sallee loves to see.

“She can beat you in a lot of different ways, and she’s OK with doing it a lot of different ways,” Sallee said. “You’re seeing a kid who understands there’s a lot of ways to skin a cat. The nice thing is that she’s not just scoring. She does want her wins, (though).”

And the Panthers have certainly done that, thrusting themselves to a 6-1 Ohio Valley Conference record, 10-8 overall mark and the top spot in the league.

Eastern senior guard Ashley Thomas recognizes Nixon has been able to run the point efficiently this season, but has become even more comfortable as the season has wore on.

But Thomas also recognizes that her youth and energetic play have helped the seniors and the underclassmen gel in conference games.

And the winning helps, too.

“I think we all have a better feeling as a point guard of what her decisions are,” Thomas said. “She sees the floor really well. You can give her the ball and something really good is going to happen.”

Nixon can go from end to end, but Thomas also recognizes Nixon’s abilities off the court. Thomas appreciates Nixon and the freshmen supplying energy to the seniors.

“I think they help us remember how to have fun with (basketball),” Thomas said. “It’s cool to be reminded how energetic and how fun it is. It’s been a blast and Ta’Kenya has been a huge part of that. She really enjoys the game. And that’s more important than anything.”

On the court, it is easy to see why Nixon is a threat. She is on the top of scouting lists.

She has been OVC Freshman of the Week four times and OVC Player of the Week two times.

OVC coaches try to make adjustments, but the Michigan City, Ind., native still finds a way for her team to win.

“We did a decent job on her in the first half and we knew in the second half, she was going to turn it up a notch,” Eastern Kentucky head coach Chrissy Roberts told the Richmond Register after last week’s EKU loss to the Panthers. “She’s a very nice player. They’ve got a very nice team. She makes them tick. It’s huge when you have somebody at the point guard position that’s going to run it.”

Nixon’s fine with an opponent stopping her.

“Of course, it’s nice (for teams) to recognize me as a threat,” Nixon said. “I don’t feel like they stop me. We win anyway. That’s OK. It’s not about stopping me. It’s about stopping my team.”

Nixon tries to learn from every time she’s with Sallee, whether that is a film session, practice or a game.

She does not settle for the status quo.

“I feed off his energy and enthusiasm,” Nixon said. “I know I made the right decision. I don’t think I could play for any other coach.”

Sallee talks to his players about playing between the ears and playing on an even keel.

Nixon displayed that last week in two critical road games.

“I kept everybody calm,” she said. “Let them get hyped. We celebrate at the right time. We don’t celebrate on every shot.”

The Nixon-Sallee relationship has been critical to the success of the team.

“It makes it a lot easier to play when you know what your coach wants from you,” Nixon said. “Us being on the same page helps our relationship and it helps the team’s relationship. It’s easy to play when you have that type of understanding.”

And Sallee recognizes that.

“She handles me really well, and that’s always tough to do,” he said.

Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944

or kjmurphy@eiu.edu.

Eastern freshman guard Ta’Kenya Nixon has won Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week four times this season. Her performance has helped the Panthers take over first place in the OVC. (Photo Illustration by Alycia Rockey/The Daily Eastern News)

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