No. 23/25 Women's Basketball Drops Close Decision To Columbia, 67-65

Saturday, February 24

New York, N.Y.

2:00 PM

Princeton University

20-4,10-1Ivy League

Columbia

19-5,10-1Ivy League

Princeton

Columbia

Chet Nweke led the Tigers with 17 points

No. 23/25 Women's Basketball Drops Close Decision To Columbia, 67-65

February 24, 2024 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

NEW YORK – The No. 23/No. 25 Princeton Women's Basketball Team's rally fell just short in a 67-65 loss to the Columbia Lions at Levien Gym on Saturday evening.

After the Lions split a 1-1 at the free throw line, the Tigers called timeout and had one more opportunity to tie the contest, but their shot attempt was off the mark as time expired.

Chet Nweke had a team-high 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting with six rebounds and a block while Kaitlyn Chen had 14 points and eight assists. Ellie Mitchell just missed a double-double with nine points and 18 rebounds in the loss. It was the 51st game for Mitchell with at least 10 boards.

Ahead by two, Columbia used an 11-4 push to take a 19-10 advantage in the first quarter before settling with a 19-13 lead after 10 minutes. The Tigers ripped off a 15-5 sprint to begin the second stanza to go in front, 28-24, with 3:53 remaining. An Abbey Hsu three-point play to finish the second quarter cut the home team's deficit to one, 30-29, at the break.

After exchanging baskets to start the second half, Columbia scored 16 of the next 23 points to go back ahead, 47-39, as the clock read 2:38. The Lions would eventually take a 53-45 lead into the final quarter.

Columbia kept Princeton at bay, leading by 11 as half the fourth quarter elapsed, but back-to-back threes from Madison St. Rose set the score at 66-61 with 4:17 remaining. Buckets from Mitchell and Nweke closed the gap to one. Columbia's Fliss Henderson was fouled and split both free throws before Princeton's last shot attempt.

The Tigers had 17 assists on 26 field goals and outrebounded Columbia, 42-33, highlighted by 19 offensive caroms.

Princeton is now 20-4 this season and 10-1 in the Ivy League. The Tigers welcome Harvard (5 p.m.) on Mar. 1 and Dartmouth (4 p.m.) on Mar. 2.