Chen's Career Night Leads Women's Basketball Over Villanova, 61-58

Monday, December 11

Villanova, Pa.

7:00 PM

Princeton University

7-3,0-0Ivy League

Villanova

6-4,0-0Big East

Princeton

Villanova

Kaitlyn Chen

Photo by: Sideline Photos

Chen's Career Night Leads Women's Basketball Over Villanova, 61-58

December 11, 2023 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. – Kaitlyn Chen registered a career-high 31 points as the Princeton Women's Basketball Team rallied from five down with seven minutes to play to defeat the Villanova Wildcats, 61-58, at Finneran Pavilion.

After Chet Nweke hit a free throw to go up three, 59-56, with 12 seconds to go, Villanova's Lucy Olsen was fouled beyond the three-point line. She missed the first from the charity stripe and then hit the next two.

Following a timeout, Skye Belker was fouled and knocked down both shots while the Wildcats' shot at the buzzer was no good to finish off the victory.

Princeton found itself, trailing, 54-49, as the clock ticked under seven minutes, but Chen quickly answered with a 5-0 run herself. After Olsen put the home team back in front, this ridiculous three-point play by Chen put the Tigers ahead for good.

Princeton 57, Villanova 56 | 0:45 4th

Out Of This World @kaitlynchenn2!#GetStops ???? pic.twitter.com/ETJjPRvVme
— Princeton WBB (@PrincetonWBB) December 12, 2023

The Tigers opened the contest with nine of the first 11 points, but the Wildcats ended the first quarter with an 18-5 sprint to take a 22-16 lead. After Villanova began the scoring in the second stanza, Princeton ripped off 10 straight points with Madison St. Rose scoring seven during that stretch to put the Tigers up, 26-24.

Villanova answered with an 8-0 jump of its own to set the score at 32-26 with 3:07 to go in the first half. The home unit went onto take a 35-30 advantage into halftime.

Neither team led by more than three points in the third frame with Villanova's Maddie Burke's three with 12 seconds remaining tied the score at 47-all to begin the fourth quarter.

Ellie Mitchell recorded 19 rebounds, eight offensive and was a team-best +6. Belker and St. Rose each had 12 points. Olsen who came into the game, averaging 25.3 points per game for Villanova, had 21 points on 21 shots.

The game featured 12 lead changes and eight times with neither team leading by more than five in the second half.

Princeton has a quick turnaround as it takes on Rutgers at home Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.