Season Recap: Princeton Secures Second Consecutive Ivy Regular Season And Tournament Crowns

22 wins

2019 Ivy League Tournament Champions

2019 Ivy League Regular Season Champions

RPI of 44, the highest in the Ivy League

What a year it was for the Princeton Tigers. Let's take one last look at the 2018-19 season …

Signature Wins:
Dec. 8 – Princeton 54, Quinnipiac 42 – Box Score | Recap | Photo Gallery
The return from injury for Bella Alarie could not have gone any better. The Tigers dropped the Quinnipiac Bobcats, 54-42, at Jadwin Gym as the two-time Ivy League Player of the Year secured 16 points, 19 rebounds, two blocks and two steals. The Bobcats' 42 points was their lowest total since Mar. 7, 2016.

Quinnipiac hit a free throw to cut its deficit to nine, 47-38, halfway through the fourth frame, but Princeton's defense pitched a shutout for the next 3:39 of game action to run away and pick up the win.

The Bobcats would go on to win its third MAAC Championship and reach the NCAA Tournament, finishing the season at 26-6.

Feb. 1 – Princeton 79, Columbia 64 – Box Score | Recap | Photo Gallery
With one of the greatest individual performances in Ivy League history, Alarie broke two Ivy League records and another career mark as the Tigers defeated the Columbia Lions, 79-64, at Levien Gym.

Alarie broke the Ivy single-game records for points (45) and field goals (20) in the win. She also became the program's all-time leader in blocks. Her 20 made baskets were the most in a single-game by anyone in the NCAA this season.

Columbia got as close as one, 46-45, four minutes into the third quarter, but Alarie's trey a few possessions later extended Princeton's advantage back to eight (55-47). The Tigers held the Lions off the scoreboard for the final 2:50 of the frame and pushed their lead to 13, 63-50, after 30 minutes. Head coach Courtney Banghart's squad led by double-digits throughout the fourth stanza and wasn't threatened.

Feb. 26 – Princeton 68, Penn 53 – Box Score | Recap | Photo Gallery
Princeton allowed just one basket in the fourth quarter as it defeated the Penn Quakers, 68-53, at the Palestra.

Alarie contributed a game-high 33 points along with 10 rebounds, including eight offensive caroms. Carlie Littlefield registered 14 points, six assists and five rebounds while Gabrielle Rush contributed 13 points. Sydney Jordan was a game-high +20 in the win.

With 5:43 remaining in the game, Phoebe Sterba hit a three-pointer get the Penn deficit to seven (58-51).

The Quakers would not score another basket after that.

Seriously.

On the next possession, Littlefield hit a three-pointer and was fouled. She completed the four-point play to get the score back to double-digits (62-51).

The Quakers missed their final five shots and turn the ball over four times after Sterba's three-pointer.

Mar. 17 – Princeton 65, Penn 54 – Box Score | Recap | Photo Gallery
Princeton won their second straight Ivy League Tournament title with a 65-54 victory over the Penn Quakers at the Lee Amphitheater.

Just like the game at the Palestra, the Tigers' defense shined in the fourth quarter as they held the Quakers to one basket.

Penn's Kendall Grasela hit a jumper with 6:28 remaining that tied the Ivy Tournament Final at 51-all.

The Quakers would only score on three free throws after that.

Rush's jumper as the clock ticked under five minutes proved to be the game-winner. Princeton hit seven free throws in the final 77 seconds to keep its distance from Penn and secure the win. The Tigers shot 6-of-11 (54.5 percent) in the fourth quarter, outscoring Penn, 21-7.

Awards:
WBCA All America Regional Finalist: Bella Alarie
Ivy League Tournament Most Outstanding Player: Bella Alarie
Ivy League All-Tournament Team: Bella Alarie, Carlie Littlefield, Gabrielle Rush and Julia Cunningham
Ivy League Player of the Year: Bella Alarie
All-Ivy: Bella Alarie (first-team), Carlie Littlefield (first-team)
USBWA National Player of the Week: Bella Alarie (Feb. 5)
NCAA.com Starting Five: Bella Alarie (Feb. 6).
Ivy League Player of the Week: Bella Alarie (Dec. 10, Dec. 17, Dec. 24, Feb. 4, Feb. 11, Feb. 18 Mar. 11), Carlie Littlefield (Nov. 26)
Ivy League Rookie of the Week: Julia Cunningham (Dec. 24)

Notes: Princeton made the postseason for the 10th straight season … The Tigers reached the NCAA Tournament for the eighth time in 10 years after never reaching the Big Dance prior … Princeton was one of the best in the country in free-throw percentage (seventh, 78.0), blocked shots (15th, 166) and blocked shots per game (16th, 5.2) … Alarie broke the Princeton single-season record for points per game (22.8) … Her 210 field goals, 525 points, 65 blocks were the second most in a year while her 408 field goal attempts were fourth most … Alarie became the first person since Ellen DeVoe in 1984-85 to average a double-double for a season … The junior became the Tigers' leader in Ivy Player of the Week awards (17) and is second in double-doubles … Rush set the Princeton single-season records for three-pointers (93) and three-point field goal attempts (260) ... The senior's 365 field goal attempts are tied for 10th highest for a single-season … Rush will graduate third in three-point attempts (550) and fifth in three-pointers (196) … Littlefield's 98 free throw are tied for ninth in a single-season … Princeton's .780 free-throw percentage, 166 blocks, 1,992 field goals attempts are the best in program history.

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