Princeton rallies to beat Harvard and win Ivy Tournament
Princeton guard Julia Cunningham, left, takes the ball from Harvard guard Harmoni Turner (14) during the first half of the Ivy League championship NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Princeton, N.J. Credit: AP/Noah K. Murray
PRINCETON, N.J. — Kaitlyn Chen scored 21 points, Ellie Mitchell had four in the final minute and Princeton rallied from an 11-point third quarter deficit to beat Harvard 54-48 and win the Ivy League Tournament on Saturday.
The Tigers (23-5) earned a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament with the victory. Princeton knocked off sixth-seeded Kentucky in the first round and lost by a point to Indiana in the round of 32 last year.
Trailing 48-47 with 1:18 left Mitchell hit a layup with the shot clock running down. After a off-balance runner by Harmoni Turner missed, Mitchell got the rebound and calmly sank two free throws with 37.2 seconds left. Mitchell had 10 points and 15 rebounds.
Elena Rodriguez was fouled 10 seconds later for Harvard, but she missed both free throws. Chen then missed two on the other end with 23.7 seconds left leaving the door open for the Crimson (17-11), who were trying to earn their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2007.
Harvard couldn't take advantage though as Turner turned the ball over on a drive down the lane, throwing it out of bounds.
Madison St. Rose hit the second of two free throws to make it a two-possession game. McKenzie Forbes missed a 3-pointer on the other end and the Tigers celebrated hugging at center court after St. Rose hit two more free throws for the final margin.
Forbes finished with 14 points to lead Harvard, which beat Columbia in overtime to advance to the title game.
Harvard guard Harmoni Turner (14) drives to the basket against Princeton forward Ellie Mitchell (00) during the first half of the Ivy League championship NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Princeton, N.J. Credit: AP/Noah K. Murray
Harvard trailed 18-15 after the first quarter as Ivy League Player of the Year Kaitlyn Chen scored 13 points for the Tigers. The Crimson got going in the second quarter outscoring Princeton 17-5, including scoring the final nine points of the half. Lola Mullaney hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to give Harvard its biggest lead of the half at 32-23.
The Crimson extended the lead to 42-31 with 5:56 left in the third quarter before Princeton scored the next six points and trailed 44-37 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Tigers (22-6) tied the game before Rodriguez hit one of two free throws with 1:18 left to give Harvard a 48-47 lead — its last.
Princeton started out the Ivy regular season with a loss to Harvard and then one to Columbia. That was the last loss Princeton has had, winning 14 straight games since.
