The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Five questions with Women's Basketball's Joanne Allen-Taylor
07.11.2019 | Women's Basketball
The 5-foot-8 guard from Houston enters her sophomore season at Texas.
Texas sophomore Joanne Allen-Taylor came to the Forty Acres as an accomplished basketball player and student. She played in 30 games her rookie season and is looking forward to a breakout sophomore campaign.
Read more as Taylor reflected on her freshman season and looked ahead to her sophomore season.
Q: What were your takeaways from your freshman season at Texas?
Joanne Allen-Taylor: "I took away from my freshman year that I can sustain all the school work and the rigorous season. I felt like maybe coming in as a freshman, I wouldn't know how to balance that well. I can say that maybe that took away from me being the player I wanted to be last season. I can definitely take away from my freshman year that I can balance a season and school work, and be who I want to be."
Q: It's well known that you're a mechanical engineering major. What sparked your interest in that field of study?
Joanne Allen-Taylor: "I always loved math in high school. I didn't know I was going to pick engineering when I came here. I just felt like I want to do something with math and I love cars, so I thought 'Let's try mechanical engineering.'"
Q: What have you found as your keys to success for balancing basketball and academics?
Joanne Allen-Taylor: "Allotting time for studying and making sure that I allot the same time for putting in work for basketball. If I do have a lot of stuff to do on the studying side, I need to find a way to get on the court as well."
Q: What do you feel like you've improved upon headed into your sophomore season?
Joanne Allen-Taylor: "I think I know the game more and I know what to expect from the game. Definitely I can handle the speed of the game more now that I'm a year into college basketball."
Q: You seem to have found your voice and are more vocal in practice and workouts. To what do you attribute that?
Joanne Allen-Taylor: "I'm more comfortable around everybody. I know what I can say that can contribute to the team. I know what I can do now. I feel like I'm not just stepping my toes into the water now, I can be who I am and contribute."
