Grace Stone: Defense is Where The Fun Is

Towson came into last night's game averaging 79.6 points per contest, good for 18th in the country. As the clock ticked to zero, Princeton walked off the court with a 68-54 victory, holding the road squad to its second lowest scoring output of the season.

That's exactly what Grace Stone enjoys.

"I think defense makes basketball what it is," said the junior. "I don't think it's the same game if you don't have the defensive fundamentals to challenge an offense to make it work as hard it possibly can for a shot. I think defense is where the fun is at."

Defense is something that is predicated on a Carla Berube's team from the beginning. Berube's squads have produced seven straight seasons with a top-10 scoring defense.

The results? How about a 198-22 record (.900) during that stretch.

What's one thing that Berube preaches to her players about defense?

High hands, of course.

"It seems so simple," said Stone. "You start at pee-wees and coaches say that you got to get your hands up on defense. When Coach Berube came in my sophomore year, it seemed frivolous to me, but it is so common all over college basketball, men's, and women's, that people don't play defense with their hands up. It's so effective because the offensive player can't shoot, see the basket, or necessarily see a teammate moving. That's one of the biggest things that I've learned, you have to play with your hands high and playing hard will solve so many of your problems."

Berube and Stone have a natural connection as the junior believes the defensive part of the game is fun.

"Coach Berube and I are on the same page because I take pride in defense because I have to make you earn it," said Stone. "That's where the competitive side of basketball from me comes from. Anyone can learn how to shoot a jumper but learn how to shoot a jumper with my hand in your face."

Stone is not just playing because of her defense. Her shooting percentage is the highest of her career while her 9.4 points per contest would be a personal-best. Princeton's offense has lost Bella Alarie '20, a three-time Ivy League Player of the Year, and Carlie Littlefield '21, a two-time First-Team All-Ivy selection, since the 2019-20 campaign. Stone is one of several players to have stepped up offensively.

"Earlier in the year we were all trying to see how we fit, and I think we've done a good job with our offense," said Stone. "I have taken a completely different role. As a sophomore I was a guard and now playing the four, I've had to figure out what spots on the floor are where I'm most effective based on who's guarding me because I've had larger post players on me."

Despite trying to figure out the best pieces on offense and with a younger group of players, Princeton is 10-4 overall and 2-0 in the Ivy League. 19 of the team's 68 points in last night's win over Towson were scored by players who had not played collegiate basketball before this year.

"I'm very proud of where we are because we've worked extremely hard to build that identity and non-conference play has challenged us in so many ways that forced us to step up in our own roles and take responsibility for the team's success, (players) 1-16," said Stone.

One standpoint contest from earlier this season was the victory over No. 22 Florida Gulf Coast. Stone registered a career-high 17 points while the Tigers earned the program's first top-25 victory in 43 years.

Defense is what carried Princeton. Florida Gulf Coast had the No. 13 ranked scoring offense (84.0) and had scored at least 70 points in every game.

The Eagles finished with 55 points, their lowest field goal total (20) and shooting percentage (36.4) of the year. Florida Gulf Coast's Kierstan Bell led the nation in scoring (26.6 points) and was held to 19 points on an inefficient 21 shot attempts including 0-9 from beyond the arc.

"Beating Florida Gulf Coast was our biggest win and I think that was a gut check," said Stone. "We had a tough loss to Rhode Island, and we haven't lost in a while, so it was like what's going on here? We had to find our feet again and learn from those mistakes. We went down to Florida; we didn't know how we would match up and we played together. Those are the type of games I love playing because everyone wants it so bad, and you do whatever it takes to win. The atmosphere was exciting and to be in a close battle against a good team, it's one I'm going to remember for a while."

The defensive battles are something Stone takes great pride in. She believes they are great preparation for March.

"I love those that you have to earn, and work really hard for," said Stone. "You have to pick your teammates up; they have to pick you up and you got to figure it out. By the time you're sitting on the bench at the end, you are absolutely exhausted because you gave everything you had. Those are so exciting because they test you and show you where you can be in March and that's the type of game I want to be in because that's what I want to learn, how we're going to be in March."

Princeton's journey to March Madness continues this weekend with a trip to Brown on Saturday (4 p.m.) and Penn on Monday (2 p.m.).

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