Box Score vs. Princeton (PDF)

PRINCETON, N.J. – It was game that fit the tense rivalry between the University of Pennsylvania (7-4, 1-0) and Princeton (6-8, 0-1) in recent years, but the Quakers put together a clutch performance down the stretch and defeated the Tigers, 62-57, on Saturday night at Jadwin Gym.

With tonight's victory, Penn notched their third-straight win over Princeton in as many games as the Quakers began their Ivy title defense on the right footing. Junior Beth Brzozowski was a sniper from downtown in the final ticks, hitting all nine of her points in the final 6:26 of action to carry the Red and Blue for the come-from-behind win.

Michelle Nwokedi led the way for the Quakers with 13 points and 13 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season, while Sydney Stipanovich (10pts, 4rbs) and Anna Ross (11pts, 1reb, 4a) each put up double digits on the snowy day in New Jersey. Kasey Chambers also provided seven points, three boards and a career-high eight assists while the Quakers shot 40.7% (24-of-59) from the field in the victory.

Princeton was led by the inside duo of Bella Alarie and Leslie Robinson who combined for 27 points. Gabrielle Rush added in another 15 points for the Tigers in the defeat.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Quakers jumped out to a 5-0 run to start the contest and increased their output to take a 10-2 advantage following four Princeton turnovers in the opening minutes. The Tigers dug themselves out of the deficit following the Penn advantage, going on an 11-2 run to pull ahead 13-12 with 2:37 to play in the frame. By the end of the stanza, Penn held a slight 19-17 advantage over the hosts following 8-of-16 shooting (50%) from the field.

Neither team led by more than a possession following the 7:27 mark in the second until the Tigers took the lead, 33-27, via 12-3 run with less than two minutes left in the half. A steal by Brzozowski and a finish at the foul line by Ross got the Quakers within five at 33-28 heading into halftime.

The Quakers came out firing in the third, and knocked back-to-back jumpers from Lauren Whitlatch and Chambers to once again make it a one possession game at 37-35, but the Tigers had an answer for every Red and Blue counter. Lay-ins from Nwokedi and Princess Aghayere made it a one point game at 43-41, but the Tigers connected at the charity stripe to end the half with a 44-41 lead.

In the closing minutes on the contest, Brzozowski was the one to take on the clutch role for the Quakers. The junior sniper nailed three in a row from long range, posting all of her nine points in that run, and coupled by lay-ins from Stipanovich and Ross put the Red and Blue up 58-53 with 1:22 to play. Last ditch efforts from Princeton in the final seconds placed Penn on the charity stripe, and a 19-6 run over the final 10 minutes sealed the 62-57 victory.

UP NEXT
The Quakers return to action next Friday and Saturday for the continuation of the Ivy season, hosting Yale and Brown on Friday, Jan. 13th and 14th back home at The Palestra.

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