Weledji Records First Career Double-Double As Princeton Earns 85-83 Victory over Seton Hall

Thursday, November 16

South Orange, N.J.

7:00 PM

Princeton University

2-0

Seton Hall

2-1

Princeton

Seton Hall

Photo by: Shelley M. Szwast

Weledji Records First Career Double-Double As Princeton Earns 85-83 Victory over Seton Hall

November 16, 2017 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Behind Tia Weledji and Bella Alarie's double-doubles, the Princeton Tigers earned a hard-fought 85-83 victory over the Seton Hall Pirates at Walsh Gymnasium on Thursday evening.

Weledji scored 16 points and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds, securing her first career double-double. Alarie dropped in a game-high 22 points and 12 boards, along with three assists, a block and a steal for her eighth career double-double.

The first quarter was a quickly-paced affair as each team shot over 50 percent from the floor, but Seton Hall took a 22-20 advantage after 10 minutes. Leslie Robinson and Carlie Littlefield led the Tigers with six points each. Eight different Pirates scored for the home team.

Even at 26-all with 7:30 to go in the first half, the Pirates created separation with a 14-4 push to take a 40-30 lead at the 2:04 mark. A trey from Gabrielle Rush and bucket from Weledji cut the Tigers' deficit in half, 40-35, at the break.

Despite trailing at halftime, Princeton shot an impressive 55.6 percent from the floor (15-of-27) while Seton Hall was 14-of-30 (46.7 percent). The Pirates made 10-of-11 from the charity stripe while Princeton only made 4-of-8 (50 percent).

Seton Hall kept its distance to begin the second half until two free throws from Alarie gave the Tigers' their first lead in over 10 minutes of game action (45-44) with 5:40 left in the third stanza. This time, Seton Hall made a push, scoring seven consecutive points in the next 1:54, to jump back in front, 51-45. Princeton worked its way back, tying the non-conference meeting at 54-all as the clock read 2:37. A jumper from Weledji put the Tigers ahead, 59-58, after three frames.

Head coach Courtney Banghart's unit opened the fourth quarter with a flurry as Alarie and Gabrielle Rush dropped in three treys on its first three possessions to quickly go up by 10 (68-58). The Tigers made their first four shots of the final stanza, leading by as many as 12 points with 6:07 remaining. Princeton maintained its 12-point lead until Seton Hall made one last push with three minutes left.

The Pirates ripped off a 10-1 run, setting the score at 81-78, with 63 seconds to go. Littlefield sank two free throws, but Seton Hall made two from the line to remain within three. After being fouled with 16 seconds remaining, Rush put the meeting away with two free throws and give the Tigers its second straight victory.

Alarie (22), Littlefield (13), Robinson (16), Rush (14) and Weledji (16) gave Princeton five players in double-figures for the first time since last December in a game vs. Wagner (Dec. 21).

Princeton held Seton Hall to 27.8 percent shooting in the second half, outscoring the Pirates, 50-43, in that span. The Tigers held Donnaizha Fountain, the reigning Big East Player of the Week, to 6-of-20 shooting (30 percent) and 0-of-6 from beyond the arc.

The Tigers will welcome Georgia Tech to Jadwin Gymnasium on Sunday. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be streamed on the Ivy League Network and ESPN3.