Turco and Tahata: La Salle to Lawrenceville

By Kadie DiGiuseppe

Over the last few seasons, Rider women’s basketball has welcomed new Broncs through the transfer portal who instantly affected the program. Last season, it was Taylor Langan from Millersville University, who made second team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

 This season, Head Coach Lynn Milligan and her coaching crew welcomed a pair of former La Salle Explorers, junior forward Emilee Tahata and her former roommate, senior guard Gabby Turco. 

‘The game just came to her’ 

Both Tahata and Turco came to Rider after the 2023-24 season playing for the La Salle Explorers in Philadelphia. 

The New Zealand native, Tahata played in 28 games with the Explorers over three seasons but missed the 2021-22 season with an injury. During the 2023-24 season she faced multiple concussions, playing only 14 of 26 games. Though Tahata had been in Philadelphia since her freshman season, it was not until that season that Turco joined the squad with her.  

Milligan said she had been scouting Turco since she had been in high school, playing on local AAU teams. However, when Turco was making the switch from Division I basketball after the 2022-23 season, she chose La Salle. 

“We recruited her pretty hard,” said Milligan. “Things come full circle and we were fortunate enough to get her the second time around.”

The next season, Turco committed to Rider less than a month after her junior season at La Salle ended. At the time of the 2023-24 academic year, Turco was interning in Philadelphia and explained that was the reason she chose La Salle, despite Rider’s efforts to make her a Bronc. 

Turco described her first visit at La Salle and mentioned that she did not meet any of her teammates. After that, she did an overnight visit where she met her teammates, including Tahata. 

Tahata instantly thought Turco was cool and liked her vibe from the jump. Tahata even noted that she and her former La Salle teammate said that Turco was one of their favorite recruits when she was welcomed to La Salle. Most of all, Tahata said she knew at the start that Turco would fit right in. 

“I loved playing with Gab at La Salle. She’s one of my favorite players to play with, for sure,” said Tahata. “I just loved how composed she was and how the game just came to her.”

Turco played in 29 games as a junior where she averaged 5.4 points per game and 2.8 rebounds. She had multiple double-digit games including her season high of 17.

Tahata averaged 5.2 points per game along with 3.1 rebounds which was up from her 2.9 points per game and 1.9 rebounds from 2020-21. Before she came to play in the United States, Tahata played for the New Zealand Youth National Team and appeared in four games of the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2018. 

This season for the Broncs, Tahata, or “Hata” as Milligan calls her is averaging 5.5 points per game including her career-high 16 points against Bryant. 

Tahata explained that even off the court, her and Turco click on all cylinders. “She’s just a genuine person,” said Tahata. 

Turco also was known for checking up on players while at La Salle. Tahata explained that she was constantly checking up on her while Tahata was concussed.  

Turco lived downstairs in their apartment while Tahata lived upstairs. Whenever the two crossed paths, even at the weirdest hours of the night, they would chat about anything. 

Even though Turco likes her alone time, she knows when she needs someone, Tahata is there. “Obviously, Emilee [Tahata] is outgoing, she’s an ear to listen when you have things going on,” said Turco. 

‘It just seemed right’

Turco, the Wildwood, New Jersey, native explained that she had been committed to come to Rider “early,” since she visited the year before. For the Broncs, Turco now leads the team and averages 14.1 points per game including her 24 points against Niagara, four points less than her career high. 

Tahata on the other hand, was not committed when she visited Rider with Turco. Tahata visited Rider on March 26, 2024 with Turco and her parents, which was also the day of 107.7 The Bronc’s Eggcellent Egg Hunt. 

“It was a perfect day. It was sunny, everybody was out on campus, there was so much going on and it just seemed right,” Turco said. 

Milligan said she had never had two girls from the same school transfer into her program the same year before the duo. She also said that she thinks the duo found comfort in coming from the same school and already being close friends. 

Tahata recalled being nervous when going through the transfer portal but her nerves were eased when she found out she could be with Turco.

Assistant Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator MyNeshia McKenzie and Milligan called Tahata on many occasions after her visit to check in on her. When recalling those phone calls, Tahata said they were “personable.” 

Tahata expressed that she would have not been as comfortable if it was not for Turco. She said that she was so thankful to have someone like Turco who she “genuinely trusts,” transfer schools with her. 

When asked about how rare she thought it was to go through NIL with one of your teammates and end up at the same school, Tahata said, “It really is,” and even described it as a “once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Being an international student, Tahata explained that she is also thankful she got to go through the process with Turco so she did not have to go through the process of relearning a team, coaches and campus alone. 

After visiting campus, it did not take Tahata long to commit to Milligan and her program along with Turco. According to Tahata, it took less than a week.

“I was really lucky to be able to go on a visit with someone who I already had played with. I honestly couldn’t have asked for anything better,” said Tahata.  

All love 

Milligan described Tahata and Turco as “terrific young women.” She commented that both girls came into the program as talented basketball players but Milligan has seen them grow as a Rider basketball player. Not only that, Milligan loves having them represent what Rider women’s basketball is all about. 

Being on a team together, Milligan believes that is the key to their friendship’s growth. “They hang out with each other and their teammates in different atmospheres. From bus rides to hotels to all those other ‘remember when’ moments,” said Milligan. 

Not only are they great contributors on the court but Milligan is most thankful for the example they set as young women. She believes her young and newer players get a “really good” example that is led by Tahata and Turco.