Throughout the remainder of the NCAA women’s basketball season, Megan Hughes Perry of the WNBA Basketball Operations Staff will shed some light on some of the top college storylines across the country.

In this edition of College Hoops Highlights the spotlight is on Elizabeth Williams of Duke University.

Elizabeth Williams has established herself as one of the nation’s premier talents. Her interior scoring, relentless rebounding and shot blocking ability have captured the attention of coaches, general managers and scouts alike. But there is something different about Williams and her game this season that has set her apart from the pack. Yes, the stats (13.3PPG, 8.7RPG) and the accolades (3x AP All-American) are impressive, but what is truly special about the 6-foot-3 center is her consistency and how she has taken ownership of her new leadership role in her senior campaign.

Consistency is what separates the good players from the great players, and Williams has been a star this season. Her ability to perform at a high level has never been in question, rather, her ability to maintain that level of play night in and night out has been the challenge. In all fairness, the injury bug has plagued Duke’s program over the past few seasons. Aside from a foot injury that sidelined Williams for two games this year, she has been able to avoid any such setbacks, and her team has largely benefited from her presence in the middle. In four games against Top 25 opponents this year, Williams is averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds. To those that would suggest she fades to the background on the big stage, the proof is in the numbers. Williams is most definitely showing up and shining bright in the biggest moments.

For Williams, however, success isn’t solely about her individual performance, but how she contributes to the success of her team, a squad that is currently 11-5 and No. 16 in the nation. Williams seems to understand the big picture. She has a PPA (points per possession plus assists) of 1.07. Why is this significant you ask? This means that for every possession that she is utilized (whether she scores directly or assists on the score), her team garners 1.07 points. That means that not only is she getting it done on her own, but she is making others better in the process. That is what sets her apart. Williams has embraced being a leader and understands that her team relies on her to not only score, rebound, and defend, but to engage and facilitate. Some say the mark of a good leader is defined by a person’s ability to influence those around them and make them better. Williams has most certainly delivered on that end.

Finally, as Williams nears the end of her collegiate career, the stage is set for an epic finish. Of course there is still much to be decided in conference play and end-of-season bracketology, but one thing is for sure – Duke will need all that Williams has to offer down the stretch. The three-time AP All-American has delivered some of her finest basketball thus far, and moving forward we should expect nothing less. The exciting part is that her job is not yet done, in fact, the best may be yet to come.