LOS ANGELES — In a highly-anticipated No. 8 Big 12 vs No. 9 Ivy League matchup, two squads who have never faced each other before fought to the end in a one-sided thriller.
Princeton (26–4 overall, 12–2 Ivy League) were not able to hang on in the fourth despite a strong rally as they fell 82–68 to the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (24–9 overall, 12–6 Big 12) who put up a 52 percent field goal percentage alongside a dominant 36 points in the paint.
Forward Achol Akot led the Cowgirls on the night with a career-high 28 points on 12–15 shooting, all of which came from layups. Low ball-screens prevented the Tigers from effectively guarding Akot as she had free rein in the paint against an undersized Princeton five. This Tiger disadvantage was amplified by the fact that the Tigers were outrebounded 35–26.
“Of course a ton of credit to Oklahoma State, they were really tough and they made things really really hard for us on both ends of the floor,” Head Coach Carla Berube said to The Daily Princetonian. “But I’m really proud of my team and the season we had, we’re not hanging our heads.”
The Cowgirls dominated in the paint from the offset as Akot went 4–6 from the field to no avail for the Princeton defense.
Despite a quick start from the Tigers to go up 6–2, helped by junior guard Skye Belker’s jumper and some defensive physical play, Princeton lost this physicality — and energy — as Akot’s run continued. The Cowgirls were able to hurtle the ball across the court, giving them open looks at every corner and ending Princeton’s only lead of the game.
After the first timeout following a 6–0 Oklahoma State run, the Tigers still came up empty from three and the Cowgirls conversely found much success — 12 of their 15 points — in the Princeton paint.
The first quarter ended with a deflated Princeton team trailing 23–13 after the Cowgirls hit two triples to run down the clock.
Princeton struggled to respond as the second period started and quickly fell into an 18-point hole three minutes into the quarter. Six more points off layups from Akot only worsened this deficit, as she would end the half shooting 73 percent – a dominant force the Tigers could not handle.
The Orange and Black would not give up, however, going on a 12–5 run and hitting five of their seven field goals to make the score 36–25 Oklahoma State. Belker and junior guard Ashley Chea carried half of the points in this stretch with crucial triples.
More shots began to fall for the Tigers but a sloppy final minute would keep the Cowgirls out of reach at 48–33 going into the break. Princeton had managed to bring their field goal percentage up to a respectable 41 percent, but allowing 57 percent for Oklahoma State was not tenable in the long term.
As they have often this season, Princeton found themselves down at the break. To combat this deficit, the second half began with an essential 11–0 Tiger run, capped off by a pullup jumper from senior guard and First Team All-Ivy selection Madison St. Rose to tighten the match at 48–44.
“The biggest thing in the third quarter was that we were able to knock down our shots and get a stop on the other end,” Belker said to the ‘Prince.’ “We used that defense to fuel our offense which we’ve been doing all season in every comeback we had.”
“In the fourth quarter it ended up being more trading baskets and by the end a couple turnovers that led to them pulling away,” Belker continued.
The Cowgirls’ first points of the half came from none other than Akot with a layup in the paint and another triple from Oklahoma State — shooting 47 percent from three so far — kept Princeton down 53–44.
The teams traded points to end the quarter but the Tigers would never get closer than their four-point difference in the middle of the third. By the end of the quarter St. Rose, Chea, Belker, and junior forward Olivia Hutcherson all had double-digit points.
The game’s final quarter would see any hope slip from Princeton’s fingers as the team started out fighting for their lives with the deficit hanging around five after a Belker triple which saw her reach 1000 career points, the 30th Tiger to do so. A 9–0 Oklahoma State run buried the Tigers once and for all, going down 72–58.
Ten more points for each team ended the game at 82–68 and with it Princeton’s season. For seniors St. Rose and forward Taylor Charles, it was added heartbreak as their final Princeton moments came earlier for the No. 9 seed than they would have liked.
“I had an incredible season and incredible journey with this program,” St. Rose reflected to the ‘Prince’ on her Princeton career. “I found teammates and made them my family … when we get on that court we all have that same goal and that is what I love about playing with someone who has the same values as me such as Skye [Belker] and coach [Berube].”
This is the Tigers’ third-straight first game loss in the NCAA tournament to Big 12 teams, and for their junior core of Tall, Chea, Belker, and Hutcherson, it is all they have experienced in the Orange and Black uniform.
Luckily for them they have one last season together and will undoubtedly be looking to right these wrongs in their last dance.
“Losses like today are what motivate us for next season,” Belker told the ‘Prince.’
Alex Beverton-Smith is a senior Sports writer for the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
Read More
Men’s ice hockey powers past Cornell, punches ticket to ECAC Championship
Cadigan PerrielloMen’s ice hockey soars in the ECAC semifinal against Cornell to secure a spot in the ECAC Championship Saturday against Dartmouth. Fresh off a quarterfinal victory of Union last Friday and Saturday, the Tigers obtained a 3–2 victory.
Men’s ice hockey soars in the ECAC semifinal against Cornell to secure a spot in the ECAC Championship Saturday against Dartmouth. Fresh off a quarterfinal victory of Union last Friday and Saturday, the Tigers obtained a 3–2 victory.
All Keller Center staff laid off in first mass termination of academic unit staff in years
Luke GrippoThe entire Keller Center staff are being laid off due to a restructuring of the center amid ongoing University-wide “budget constraints,” resulting in nine layoffs.
The entire Keller Center staff are being laid off due to a restructuring of the center amid ongoing University-wide “budget constraints,” resulting in nine layoffs.
Fifteen seniors running for Young Alumni Trustee, sharp decline from previous years
Sena ChangFifteen seniors are running for Young Alumni Trustee, representing a sharp decline from previous years. Candidates spoke to the ‘Prince’ about their experiences in community service and leadership on campus. Many also expressed wishes to ensure that a diversity of perspectives are reflected at the decision-making table.
Fifteen seniors are running for the 2026 Young Alumni Trustee (YAT), representing a sharp decline from previous years. Candidates spoke to the 'Prince' about their experiences in community service and leadership on campus. Many also expressed wishes to ensure that a diversity of perspectives are reflected at the decision-making table.