Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Penn
Players Mentioned
Penn Escapes by Women's Basketball, 62-60, Wins Ivy League Title
March 09, 2016 | Women's Basketball
PRINCETON – The Princeton women's basketball team saw its 12-game winning streak come to an end with a heartbreaking 62-60 loss to the Penn Quakers on Tuesday evening. With the win, the Quakers clinched the Ivy League title and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Senior Alex Wheatley led all scorers with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting (66.6 percent). She also added seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal. Junior Vanessa Smith had 12 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in the loss.
The de facto Ivy League Championship saw its first separation in the first quarter as the Quakers scored nine straight to take a 14-8 lead at the 2:07 mark. The Tigers closed their deficit with three free throws to trail 14-11 after the first 10 minutes.
Behind by five points (19-14) in the second stanza, Princeton used six-point spurt to go ahead, but Penn quickly answered with points on its next offensive play. The two best teams in the Ivy League continued to trade baskets until Penn scored the final six points of the quarter to take a 32-26 lead in halftime.
Over the first few minutes of the third quarter, the Quakers extended their lead to its largest of the game at 37-28 with 6:32 to go. Princeton rallied over the next two minutes with baskets on its next four offensive opportunities to get with two (39-37). Penn would keep its distance the rest of the frame and have a 45-39 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes of the Ivy season.
A three-pointer by sophomore Kenya Holland and layup by Smith would again get the Tigers within two with 7:45 to go, but a long range basket on the next trip down the floorwithin for the Quakers set the at score 49-45. About two minutes later, Penn's Kasey Chambers would make an off-balance shot as the shot clock was winding down to make the contest, 51-45 as the game ticked under six minutes.
The circus shot did not deter the Tigers as the home team used an 11-4 run to take a 56-55 lead with 2:01 to go in the game. It was Princeton's first time back in front since the 3:09 point of the second quarter. The back and forth battle continued as the Quakers again retook on an and-1 chance by Penn's Anna Ross.
After two free throws by the Quakers, senior Michelle Miller scooped up an offensive rebound and sank a mid-range jumper to make the score, 60-58 with nine seconds to go. Following a Tigers foul, Chambers made both free throws to help seal the victory for the Quakers.
Princeton finishes the regular season at 23-5 overall and 12-2 in the Ivy League. The Tigers will have to wait until Monday's NCAA Selection Show to learn their postseason fate. The NCAA Selection Show will be on ESPN at 7 p.m. The postseason Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) will also release its' bracket on Monday following the NCAA Selection Show.
Game Notes
- Senior Alex Wheatley scored in double-figures for the sixth time in the last seven games. She has three 20+ point outings during that span. Vanessa Smith has registered at least 10 points in four of her last six outings.
 - The Tigers outshot the Quakers, 44.2 percent to 34.5 percent in the game. Penn made 6-of-15 (40 percent) from beyond the arc while Princeton was 4-of-12 (33.3 percent).
 - Penn and Princeton combined have won the last seven Ivy League titles with the Quakers taking it in 2013-14, 2015-16 and the Tigers winning the crown five times.
 - The Quakers ended the Tigers' 25-game winning streak at Jadwin. The last Ivy League team to beat Princeton other than Penn was Brown on Mar. 1st, 2014.