This article is a part of the Beyond the Arc podcast series which is run by the Women’s Basketball side of the Massachusetts Collective. Beyond the Arc will feature interviews with former UMass Women’s Basketball players discussing their time with the program, how they chose UMass and what they’ve been up to since graduating. The first edition of the series features former UMass player, Rashida Timbilla who played from 2012-16 for the Minutewomen.
Rashida Timbilla as a 6’1” Forward/Guard combo. She hails from Ottawa, Ontario and she finished her career as the second-leading rebounder in program history and ranked among the top 10 in 14 different career categories.
The Road to UMass
During high school Rashida was recruited by a number of other schools but it was former Minutewomen head coach Sharon Dawley who convinced her to come to UMass.. “There were a handful of schools that showed interest in me,” she mentions how her recruiting process started. “I got on the phone with Coach [Sharon] Dawley and Coach Jen Mac[Aulay]. I felt comfortable to go on a visit. I came on a visit to Amherst and really enjoyed it, and so I ended up committing.” Rashida started her collegiate career at UMass at the start of the 2012-13 season.
Another factor in her decision was future teammate Kim Pierre-Louis who had joined the UMass team a season earlier. “Obviously knowing Kim [Pierre-Louis], just playing with her back home in Ottawa, makes it a little easier because you already have a connection,” said Rashida. “I could pick [Kim’s] brain a little bit and kind of see what she was thinking, and how the transition was going for her.” Pierre-Louis and Timbilla both grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and spent time together playing in various basketball leagues and clubs.
Emergence and Development at UMass
“The speed of the game is quicker, and everyone is stronger,” Rashida mentions about her transition from high school basketball to playing at the collegiate level. “You’re learning a new system, new coaching staff, [and] new style of play.” In Timbilla’s first year with the Minutewomen, she appeared in all 29 games during the 2012-13 season, in which she started 26 games. “Obviously as a freshman I didn’t expect to come in and start right away,” she said. “I was hoping to play, [which] was my highest expectation. I ended up starting my first year, but I wouldn’t say it was the easiest.” Despite her uncertainty about her first year, Rashida made her mark, leading the team with 8.3 rebounds per game and was second in scoring on the team with 8.6 points per game. Remarkably, although a freshman, Timbilla averaged 29.4 minutes per game leading the team.
After calming the nerves of her first season, Rashida was able to develop and expand her skills as a player through her time with UMass playing in different positions and schemes. “I think they gave me the freedom to not only play right away but play and learn through mistakes,” Timbilla mentions about the freedom she was given to help her develop as a player. “I’m fortunate enough to have been able to do that. Just being able to play multiple positions throughout my career obviously allows me to take the game and learn the game at different positions and what different teammates at those positions liked as well.”
Some memories of UMass that stood out for Rashida were her first game ever in a UMass uniform and her last game as a Minutewomen. “[My] first start [in] my freshman year was [a big] one for me. I’ll always remember game one [where] I had a double double,” Timbilla said. “Then I always remember my last game. I think the first and the last ones are easy milestones to remember for various reasons, but those are the two I remember the most.” Rashida also took a time to look back and think about who her favorite team to play was in the Atlantic 10 conference. “It was Rhode Island for me. They were similar in the standings to us, and [it] was always a game we felt like we could get and put out our best performances,” she says about her favorite team to play in the conference. During the time Timbilla was playing at UMass, there were some Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball greats she would have to play against. “I can remember playing [against] Natasha Cloud and Jonquel Jones who are in the WNBA. [Cloud and Jones] were all-conference players when they played in the league, and just going up against those two great players is a memory and that was a great experience and great moment.”
Throughout Rashida’s four years she earned her name in the record book in multiple different categories. Timbilla is tied for seventh all-time in games played with 117 games and is sixth all-time in games started with 111 starts. She also stands fifth all-time in minutes played at 3,758 minutes played and averaged 32.1 minutes per game over her career at UMass. Rashida is one of three players to eclipse the 1,000 career rebounds in UMass Women’s Basketball history. With that said she stands third in career rebounds with 1,020 rebounds, and the only players that stand in front of her in this category are Jennifer Butler (1,328 rebounds; played from 1999-2003) and Sam Breen (1,154 rebounds; played from 2019-23). “I remember my freshman year looking at the rebounding record, and seeing Jen Butler’s name, and hoping one day I would surpass her,” she said about being within the top three in career rebounds. “To finish second at the time was huge, and to be one of three women’s basketball players to have 1,000 rebounds is a huge accomplishment for me, and I’m just proud of my effort.” Timbilla is eighth all-time in assists with 331 assists, ninth all-time in blocks with 87 blocks, and is fifth all-time in steals with 198 steals. “They’re huge, right?” she said on hitting major milestones within her career. “Whenever you can leave a place in the record book, not just in one category, but in multiple, I think it’s huge.”
Experiences After UMass
After leaving UMass, Timbilla went on to play pro-basketball overseas. “I played professional basketball for the last seven out of eight years. I’ve gotten to play [in] Portugal, Sweden, Germany, Romania, Finland, and Mongolia,” Rashida mentions about what countries she has played in. “Traveling the world playing basketball as a job has been great. It’s a nice way to see the world and just continue to play.” Timbilla is currently in her offseason from playing overseas, and she is still deciding on whether she will play another season overseas or if she will hang up the basketball sneakers. “I’m hoping to get back to campus at least, and watch Coach [Mike] Leflar’s team. If I go to play overseas, it’s just to enjoy it and [get] to see the world a little bit longer and play basketball a little bit longer.”
Even with Rashida’s playing career possibly coming to a close she still looks to keep making an impact on current and future players. “When I graduated, there [weren’t] so many resources to play professional basketball overseas at that point…So [I’m happy] anytime I can be a resource to some of the alums coming out of [the program] who want to go play overseas. Sam [Breen] and I connected virtually as she was going through her senior year and then her first year professionally.” Rashida played in the same league, though on a different team, in Finland where Sam Breen eventually landed. “It’s been great to meet somebody who’s had an impact on UMass Women’s Basketball, and just to be a resource to those who are coming after me,” she continued.
While she doesn’t know where her career is going next, she does know that she wants to stay involved in basketball. “In Canada the sports landscape looks a little different. I volunteer as a VP of girls competitive basketball in Ottawa, I hope to continue to do that and… provide girls within my city [and] my region, opportunities to play the game and reach all their goals in the sport.” As for coaching within the basketball community, Timbilla has not fully made her decision on it quite yet.
Rashida has made an impact on the UMass community during her time in Amherst. She helped a bunch of girls that were interested in basketball continue to develop their skills and continue to develop the love of the sport. I was one of those girls who Rashida helped make an impact on developing a passion for basketball. I remember going to one of their clinics before a game during the season, and with her help, I made one of my first free throws of my career as a second grader and it helped to continue my growth of falling in love with basketball even more. Some advice Rashida has for future Massachusetts Minutewomen is to cherish the moment. “When you come in as a freshman, you always think you have so much time because you have four years. Then you get to your senior year and you realize you didn’t have that much time,” Timbilla mentioned about some advice she would give her younger self and future Minutewomen. “Cherish the moment. I think you can always work harder than you think you can. Work hard and make the most of the opportunity.”
Featured Graphic: Kaily “KG” Godek, A10 Talk
Image Used in Graphic: J. Anthony Roberts
Kaily “KG” Godek is a current student at Western New England University (WNE). She has been a supporter of UMass Athletics for over 15 years. Kaily focuses on both UMass Basketball teams and occasionally on the other Women’s Basketball teams in the conference. While writing for A10 Talk, she works in the athletic department at WNE. When she graduates from WNE she wants to go into either Sports Broadcasting and Journalism or Coaching. You can follow Kaily on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kgumass23.
