NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale women's basketball team brought the Ivy League's leading offense into Friday night's showdown with No. 25 Princeton for first place in the Ivy League. But the game ultimately was determined by defense and rebounding, as the Tigers -- ranked No. 1 in the nation defensively -- rallied from an early deficit to top the Bulldogs 55-39.
Princeton (18-1, 6-0 Ivy League) had not only won 13 games in a row heading into Friday, it had steamrolled most of its recent opposition. The Tigers had won their five Ivy League games by an average of nearly 24 points, holding every opponent to 55 points or fewer. The Bulldogs made an early statement with a 12-0 run capped by a layup from junior guard
Tori Andrew, however.
After Yale held the Tigers to just 10 points and 21 percent shooting in the first quarter, Princeton rallied and eventually took a 20-19 lead with 2:23 left in the second quarter. The Tigers built that lead to eight by halftime.
Yale (15-5, 5-2 Ivy League) buckled down on defense in the third, allowing the Tigers only nine points on 27 percent shooting. But the Bulldogs got no closer than within four points in the third. And after a jumper by senior guard
Roxy Barahman got Yale within five with 6:39 left in the game, the Tigers went on a 7-0 run to take command.
Tigers guard Carlie Littlefield finished with a game-high 20 points, but it was Princeton's rebounding -- led by 14 boards from forward Ellie Mitchell and 10 from senior guard/forward Bella Alarie -- that proved to be particularly troublesome for Yale.
"I was disappointed with our rebounding efforts," said
Allison Guth, Yale's Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of Women's Basketball. "We knew that stopping their second-chance opportunities would be huge."
Barahman led Yale with 13 points, while sophomore forward
Camilla Emsbo added 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Bulldogs held Princeton to its lowest point total since Nov. 24. Yale now turns its attention to Penn, which -- along with Harvard and Yale -- is one of three Ivy teams with two league losses.
"With Penn coming in, we've got one night to figure out our rebounding issues," said Guth.
Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m. at Lee Amphitheater. Saturday's game is
part of Yale Athletics' celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day. There is free admission and a post-game sports clinic for children ages 12 and under. There will be giveaways and autographs with Yale women's teams. The day also includes a women's lacrosse home game at 1:00 p.m. and a women's ice hockey home game at 3:00 p.m.
Yale will also commemorate Black History Month at Saturday's game. Prior to the National Anthem, members the singing group Shades will perform "Lift Every Voice". Yale Steppin' Out will perform during breaks in the action, and there will be tables featuring local businesses. The event is co-sponsored by the Working Women's Network, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Afro-American Cultural Center.
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