As one of only two seniors, Brittany Orban is the most experienced Wildcat on the court. She has averaged 27.2 minutes per game in her career and last year she scored 9.6 points per game. Orban is known for her physical play and is a threat both in the paint and from beyond the arc.
With Amy Jaeschke, last season’s senior leader, graduated, how big are the shoes you have to fill as this team’s senior leader?
They’re definitely big shoes to fill. Amy was a great leader both on and off the floor. I think as a senior, you develop those roles as you progress throughout your four years here. I think she’s shown me what it’s like to be a leader, so I’ve tried to pick some of those traits up. Allison [Mocchi] and I definitely work together well as seniors this year, so I’m excited. It’s a fun team to be a leader with. I’ve loved it.
Last year, you lost in the second round of the NIT. What are the expectations like this year? Do you expect to go further?
Definitely. Every year, you expect to do better. When I came in, it wasn’t exactly a spectacular year and we’ve only gotten so much better throughout the years. My second year here we made it to the NIT, which was a huge progression for our program. Last year, we made it to the NIT again. I think in the back of our minds, we’re always wanting that NCAA Tournament. People can hide it and say that’s not what you want to tell everyone, but in the end, that’s what you want to make it to.
A lot has been made about this season’s freshmen recruiting class and transfers. How have they been able to mesh with the team thus far?
I mean it’s been great. I feel always feel bad for the transfers having to sit out on the bench a year, so it’s great to have them out here this year, knowing they’re going to contribute on the floor. And then the Freshmen…it’s always a tough adjustment coming in as a freshman, but I think our freshmen have definitely taken on their roles and taken into the challenge of knowing that we’re going to need extra bodies on the floor, and we’re going to need them to come out and give it their all everyday.
At six feet, you aren’t one of the tallest players on the team, but you’re one of the best rebounders. How have you managed to do that?
I guess my entire thought throughout my basketball career has been all about how much you want it and how much you desire it. I’m definitely not the biggest person out there, but I’m going to outwork the person next to me and I feel like with a strong work ethic that I can do whatever I set my heart out to.
A lot has been made about your work ethic over your career at NU. How do you train at practice to make that work ethic show up in games?
There’s a lot in my life that has taught me I should be grateful for everything that I’ve been given and blessed with, so every single day I think is a new opportunity. To go out there and give it my all, cause there’s a lot of people out there who can’t go out and play basketball like I can everyday, so I just go out there and know it’s going to make me better. It’s going to make the team better just if I give it my all every possession. Who knows when that possession may be with 0.1 seconds on the clock and they need me to follow through?
Speaking of being clutch, you had a big “and-1” to beat Minnesota last season and you went 11-for-11 from the foul line against Western Kentucky. How did you become such a clutch free throw shooter?
I think once again, that’s just work ethic. It’s time in the gym. It’s the dedication of coming to the gym every single day, the coaches kind of laugh with me, but they know what I’m going to do. I force myself to make ten free throws at the end of every practice, in a row. I think it’s become repetition for me. I’ve played for so many years now. It’s just a matter of practice.
What are your thoughts on the Welsh-Ryan crowd during games?
I definitely know that we have avid fans and it’s all around the country that I talk to people. I worked in Ohio this summer and everyone seems really excited about Northwestern. I think with the adjustments they’ve made like the new scrollbar, the electronic scoreboard, and the new floor, I think it’s getting everyone really excited about Northwestern. It’s a great school in the Big Ten and we’ve always made noise for ourselves in the Big Ten, so I’m excited for this year and I know our fans are too.
You are an engineering major. Have you met a lot of women’s basketball engineers in your career?
[Laughs] I can’t say I know many. There’s one on our team actually: La’Terria Taylor. I can’t say outside of Northwestern, I’ve met any other mechanical engineering basketball players.