Women's Basketball

Princeton Clinches Second-Straight Ivy Madness Presented by TIAA Title

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Princeton held off Penn to claim the 2019 Ivy League Basketball Tournament presented by TIAA championship, defeating the Quakers 65-54, Sunday at John J. Lee Amphitheater in New Haven, Conn.
 
The Tigers became the first two-time and repeat Ivy Madness champions and will head back to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight season and eighth time in 10 years. Princeton junior Bella Alarie was named Ivy League Tournament Most Valuable Player for the second-straight season.
 
Both squads started off the game with hot shooting as the teams raced up and down the court and traded baskets. Alarie scored 11 points on her own as the Tigers held a 19-17 advantage after the first quarter.
 
Penn went on a 9-0 run while Princeton was held without a basket for nearly six minutes and the Quakers pulled in front. At halftime, Penn senior Ashley Russell had 11 points and the Quakers led, 31-30, after Princeton senior Gabrielle Rush beat the buzzer with a three-pointer.
 
The Quakers started the third quarter out strong, but the Tigers battled back and trailed, 47-44, heading into the final quarter. An and-one layup by Rush followed by an Alarie score forced a Penn timeout early in the fourth quarter, down, 49-47.
 
Princeton sophomore guard Carlie Littlefield scored all of her 13 points in the second half and ran the Tigers’ offense with six rebounds and two assists. Alarie and Rush finished with 25 and 18 points, respectively, as Princeton pulled away in the fourth quarter for the victory and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
GAME NOTES
  • Princeton became the first team to win two Ivy League Tournament titles
  • This game amounted to the rubber match between the two teams, who split their season series 1-1
  • Bella Alarie is the third-straight Player of the Year to also receive Most Outstanding Performer honors, as she accomplished the feat for the second-straight year and Penn’s Michelle Nwokedi did the honors in 2017

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
  • Eleah Parker, Penn
  • Ashley Russell, Penn
  • Bella Alarie, Princeton*
  • Julia Cunningham, Princeton
  • Carlie Littlefield, Princeton
  • Gabrielle Rush, Princeton

*-Most Outstanding Performer