Princeton University Athletics
Monday TigerBlog - How'd They Do That?
December 22, 2025 | Tiger Blog
Okay. Okay.
TigerBlog will admit it. He turned off the Princeton women's basketball game at George Mason Saturday afternoon. Twice, actually.
The first time was in the final minute of regulation, when he was convinced the game was over and Princeton had lost. The second time was in overtime, when he had the same thought.
Happily, he was wrong both times. Final score: Princeton 71, George Mason 69.
What the heck? How in the world did Princeton do it?
The Tigers trailed by seven with 25 seconds left in regulation. Can you blame TB for thinking that might be too much?
At that point, TB switched over to the Miami-Texas A&M football playoff game, which was late in the fourth quarter. Then he got a text saying "do you believe this game?" He took that to mean the football game, a close, if not exactly well played, game.
Ah, but no. It was the women's basketball game. Princeton had tied it, forcing overtime.
How? Down 63-56 when TB turned it off, George Mason was called for a flagrant foul, and Skye Belker made 1 of 2. Princeton, keeping the ball, got it to Madison St. Rose, who was fouled and made three foul shots.
Just like that, it was 63-60, but only 17 seconds were left. Princeton then forced a held ball and got possession, with a chance to tie it. Enter Toby Nweke, who rebounded a missed three, scored and was fouled. Her tying free throw was with eight seconds to go.
That made it a 7-0 Princeton run in 15 seconds.
When George Mason didn't score on the final possession, off to OT the game went.
Meanwhile, over at the football game, Miami was driving in a 3-3 game late in the fourth quarter. TB decided to check to see what the final score of the women's basketball game was. Instead, he saw it was going to OT.
Okay, back to that game. And now George Mason pulled ahead 68-63 by making five of six foul shots. St. Rose missed a three with 2:23 to go, with the rebound to the Patriots — and then it was back to the football game.
By then, Miami had scored to go up 10-3, and now A&M was coming back. In fact, the Aggies made it all the way to the 5 yard line or so in the final seconds before an interception ended it.
Oh well. It was entertaining.
And then, again, TB checked on the women's game. It had to be over, right?
Nope. Princeton was up 69-68 with 10 seconds left. How? First it was baskets from Belker and Ashley Chea to make it a one-point game, and then it was Nweke again, to put Princeton ahead.
Now GMU inbounded and got fouled but only made one of two. Tie game, 69-69. Eight seconds to go.
Would there be a second overtime?
Uh, no. Not when Chea is on the court. Once again she buried a clutch game-winner, this time with 3.1 seconds to go. George Mason couldn't get a good look after that, and the Tigers had an incredible win.
TIGERS WIN!!!!!! @ashleyycheaa | #GetStops ???? pic.twitter.com/PHt82oMwuH
— Princeton WBB (@PrincetonWBB) December 20, 2025
Once again the Princeton attack was balanced, with four players in double figures, led by St. Rose with 19 and Olivia Hutcherson with 17 points and seven rebounds. Fadima Tall wasn't one of those in double figures in scoring, but she did have 10 rebounds. Again, everything Princeton does is as a team.
The game was Princeton's first since moving into the Top 25 of the national rankings. It was also the team's first in 10 days after first semester exams.
There won't be as much rest before the next game, which comes up this morning at 11:30 at Jadwin Gym against Temple as part of Education Day. The Owls are 6-5 (with an opening day win over George Mason) and are the defending American Conference regular season champ.
The Princeton men, by the way, are at Temple tonight at 7 against those Owls, who are 7-5.
Have the men and women ever played the same opponent at opposing sites before? Just kidding. Just kidding.
