Princeton Falls In NCAA Heartbreaker To No. 17 Kentucky, 82-77

Saturday, March 23

Raleigh, N.C.

11:00 AM

Princeton University

22-10

Kentucky

25-7

Princeton

#17 Kentucky

Photo by: Maddy Pryor

Princeton Falls In NCAA Heartbreaker To No. 17 Kentucky, 82-77

March 23, 2019 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Princeton Tigers dropped a heartbreaker to the No. 17 Kentucky Wildcats, 82-77, at the Reynolds Coliseum in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

Princeton finished with four players in double figures, highlighted by Bella Alarie's 34th double-double as she posted 20 points, 15 rebounds and five assists. The two-time Ivy Player of the Year became the first player since Ellen DeVoe in 1984-85 to average a double-double for the season (22.8 points, 10.6 rebounds). Gabrielle Rush led the Tigers with 22 points, hitting six treys in the contest, matching a personal-best. Her season wraps up with 96 buckets from beyond the arc, the most in a single-season in program history while her 196 career three-pointers are fifth best all-time. Sydney Jordan had a career-best 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, securing five rebounds. Carlie Littlefield added 10 points, four caroms, three assists and two steals in the loss.

After the Tigers made the first basket of the game, Kentucky registered five straight. The two teams exchanged rallies before a three-point play from Jordan gave the Tigers a 15-14 lead. A trey from Rush handed Princeton a 20-16 advantage after the first stanza. The first 10 minutes had six lead changes.

The Tigers rushed out with a 7-2 push to open the second frame, pushing its lead to nine, causing Kentucky to call timeout. This time, it was the Wildcats' turn to go on a spurt, running off 13-of-15, taking a 31-29 lead at the 3:46 mark. Princeton wrapped up the first half with a flurry, using a 6-0 spurt to take a 37-33 margin into the break.

Following a three-pointer from Rush with 3:43 left in the third quarter, the Wildcats ran off a 13-2 sprint to take a nine-point lead, 61-52, after 30 minutes.

A three-point play from Alarie cut the Tigers' deficit to five, 73-68, as the clock ticked near three and half minutes to go, but a Rhyne Howard trey on the next possession countered the Tigers' rally.

Littlefield hit another three-pointer (76-71) with 36 seconds left, but Kentucky hit six free throws down the stretch to finish off the game.

Kentucky improved to 25-7 overall while Princeton dropped to 22-10. The Wildcats had four players in double figures with Maci Morris and Taylor Murray pacing the way. The No. 17 nationally ranked squad will take on the winner of the No. 10 N.C. State and Maine on Monday.

The game featured 15 lead changes and seven times. Princeton outrebounded Kentucky by 12, 38-26, and had 18 helpers in the matchup.

With the loss, the careers of Gabrielle Rush, Sydney Jordan, and Qalea Ismail came to a conclusion. The Class of 2019 contributed 85 victories, made four straight postseasons, three NCAA Tournaments, and won two Ivy League regular season and tournament crowns.

"Dance from your heart and let your passion shine through..."

What a year we've had. We are and will forever be CHAMPS. Well done, ??'s. We'll be back. ????? pic.twitter.com/fN5NZXmTPR
— Princeton WBB (@PrincetonWBB) March 24, 2019