With just two games to go until conference play, No. 25 Princeton (11–1 overall, 0–0 Ivy League) extended its winning streak to nine on Dec. 20 with a 71–69 win against the George Mason Patriots (6–6, 1–0 A10). Although records and rankings may have predicted a comfortable win for the Orange and Black, the game was back-and-forth until the winning basket in the final few seconds.
The Tigers started strong and were able to attack the paint in the early goings of the game and quickly raise the foul count for George Mason. Of Princeton’s 16 first-quarter points, all but three came from either baskets in the paint or the free-throw line. This early spark was provided by senior guard Madison St. Rose and junior forward Olivia Hutcherson.
“I knew that we could drive and get to the basket,” Hutcherson told The Daily Princetonian. “They were swarming us when it got into the post so I was trying to cut and get open for my teammates.”
Both teams struggled to play clean basketball in the opening frame. Princeton and George Mason combined for a total of 16 turnovers in the first quarter, which led to only nine total shot attempts for the Tigers in the first 10 minutes of play. And yet, with a big three-pointer from St. Rose to end the quarter, Princeton capped off a 9–2 run and found themselves up 16–13.
In the second quarter, Princeton played cleaner basketball. Junior guard Skye Belker quickly scored for the Tigers, putting them up by five. Princeton stuck to their early-game strengths and continued their success inside and at the free-throw line, before Belker once again stepped up, this time from beyond the arc, and put the Tigers up 24–17.
For the rest of the first half, the teams traded baskets, each unable to find a big run before heading into the locker room with the score at 34–27. At the half, Princeton led the turnover battle 14–10 and outshot the Patriots from the field with a 52 percent to 42 percent advantage. It seemed as though the Tigers had found their stride after a somewhat sluggish start, and they were poised to maintain themselves in the win column.
However, the Patriots had other plans. While Princeton opened the half with a 7–0 run sparked by Hutcherson and St. Rose, the Patriots ended the quarter on a 14–4 run. Princeton was unable to make a shot from the field in the final eight minutes of the frame, only finding success from the free-throw line.
The script from the second quarter was completely flipped, with Princeton losing the turnover battle 5–2, with the Patriots outshooting them. Heading into the final 10 minutes of play, the Tigers still held onto a 45–41 lead, but George Mason had the momentum and the home crowd on their side for what ended up being a roller coaster of a fourth quarter.
In just under two minutes, the Patriots took their first lead of the second half, extending their run and putting themselves up 46–45 on the scoreboard. While Princeton found answers with St. Rose and junior forward Fadima Tall, George Mason continued to find success and extended their lead to 56–49 with three minutes left in the contest.
“They were making a lot of tough shots, and we were just not hitting ours,” Hutcherson told the ‘Prince.’ “We just stuck together and we were bringing each other up if we were making mistakes and that was really big, keeping the energy up.”
Hutcherson was able to respond and cut the Patriot lead to just five, but George Mason refused to give up a Tiger run and answered back. In response, junior guard Ashley Chea connected from long range, keeping Princeton in the game and reducing their deficit to 58–54 with just over two minutes to go. From then on, the teams alternated trips to the free-throw line, but the Patriots continued to resist, holding a seven-point lead with just 25 seconds to go.
Determined to defy the odds and fourth quarter deficits as they have all season long, Princeton pushed on. After a free throw from Belker to cut the lead to 63–57, St. Rose was fouled on a three-point attempt and drilled all three shots from the line to make it a one-possession game with 17 seconds to go.
On the ensuing Patriots possession, the Tigers forced a turnover. In the final possession of regulation, St. Rose shot a contested three that missed, but sophomore guard Toby Nweke secured a huge offensive rebound and scored an and-one on the putback. Now down one, Nweke had all the pressure to capitalize on a game-tying free throw attempt with just eight seconds left.
And the sophomore rose to the occasion, drilling the shot attempt to bring the Tigers even at 63–63.
“We knew that we weren’t going to lose this game no matter what,” said Chea. “We had energy the entire game and we just knew that no matter what we weren’t going to leave this game without a dub.”
Following Nweke, George Mason attempted a game-winning buzzer beater, but the Tigers played great defense and were able to force overtime. Princeton achieved an improbable 7–0 run in just 15 seconds of gametime to keep their hopes of maintaining the winning streak alive.
In overtime, the Patriots once again took a lead, scoring five straight points and finding themselves up 68–63 with under two minutes to go. Yet, once again, Princeton found a way to respond. A pair of big-time baskets from Belker and Chea brought the Tigers within one, and Nweke once again provided a clutch basket in the final seconds to put the Tigers on top 69–68.
With eight seconds left, however, George Mason was fouled and had the opportunity to take the lead at the free-throw line. But the Patriots only made one free throw, and the game was tied 69–69.
On the final possession of the game, Chea faked a hand-off to Belker, drove to her left and banked home an impressive, off-balance mid-range shot to give Princeton the 71–69 lead in the final seconds. With just two seconds on the clock, the Patriots were unable to score, and it was the Orange and Black who came out victorious in an instant classic on Saturday afternoon.
“That shot could’ve been for anybody,” said Chea. “It just happened to be me today and I’m super thankful to my teammates for trusting me.”
With the win, the Tigers extended their winning record to 11–1. Princeton continues to find ways to win, proving that they are a team to be feared not only in-conference, but also on the national stage. With their ability to rally and stay poised in late-game scenarios, it will be a recipe for success down the road whenever the Tigers find themselves in tight contests.
For the Tigers, the schedule doesn’t get any easier. The Orange and Black had a quick turnaround and to play the Temple Owls (6–7, 0–1 American) last Monday at home to cap off non-conference play.
Lucas Nor is a Sports staff writer for the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
A previous version of this article stated that Princeton had not yet played their last non-conference game against Temple. The 'Prince' regrets this error.
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