Box Score vs. Princeton (PDF)
PHILADELPHIA - The University of Pennsylvania (20-7, 13-1)
and Princeton (15-12, 9-5) fought a defensive battle at the Palestra as the
regular season came to close on Tuesday. With both teams already secure in
their seeds for the upcoming Ivy League tournament, the rivalry still burned bright
and in the end, the Quakers came out with 52-40 victory.
Penn improved to 13-1 in the Ivy League and recorded their
20th regular season win for the fourth consecutive season.
Inside the Numbers
*40 points is the fewest Princeton scored all season and
fewest the Tigers have ever put up against Penn in the history of the rivalry.
*Penn held Princeton to just 26% (15-57) shooting and 18%
(4-22) from three point range.
How it Happened
Both teams had scoreless droughts of over two minutes in the
first quarter, but it was the Quakers who pulled away early. Anna Ross scored
six of Penn's first 11 points, but the Tigers hung tight. The Quakers went a
perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the first period, and with the help
of four early points off the bench by Princess Aghayere, Penn took a 19-12 lead.
Princeton came out firing in the second quarter and started
off on an 8-0 run to take a 20-19 lead, but it was Michelle Nwokedi that gave
the Quakers back to the advantage with two straight triples. A Ross strike from
the wing and a Nwokedi layup with just under 20 seconds left in the half put
the Red and Blue ahead, 30-24, at the midway point.
Following intermission, it was Ross who opened the second
act by hitting her third triple of the game, followed by a Brzozowski three in
transition. With time winding down in the final minute of the third period,
Phoebe Sterba hit a three pointer and Aghayere connected on a bounce pass for a
layup as the Quaker lead ballooned to 15 points.
The fourth quarter was smooth sailing for the hosting
Quakers as they allowed just eight points in the final period, and Penn cruised
for their second-straight regular season Ivy title.
Up Next
The Quakers return home to The Palestra in a few short days
for the inaugural Ivy League Tournament, set to take place M. arch 11-12. Penn
takes on fourth-seeded Brown at 11 a.m. to kick-off Saturday's slate and the
contest will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
#FightOnPenn
