SALT LAKE CITY — — Grace Stone is getting into the habit of winning jumpers for the Princeton Tigers.
“She has ice in her veins. She’s got that look in her eye and you know she’s gonna do a play. She’s going to hit a shot,” Princeton coach Carla Berube said.
Stone scored 22 points, including his fifth 3-pointer of the game with 4.7 seconds left, to lift 10th-seeded Princeton to a thrilling 64-63 victory over North Carolina State in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament Friday night.
“It’s a hit I’ve taken in one game before and my teammates have all the confidence in the world in me,” said Stone, who hit winners against Columbia and Rhode Island earlier this season.
Kaitlyn Chen, who also scored 22 points, made a 3-pointer with 55 seconds remaining to cut the Tigers deficit to 63-61, then Madison St. Rose and Stone both stole in the final minute to give the Tigers a chance.
During North Carolina State’s final possession, the Tigers created chaos – as they had done throughout the game – and dropped the ball to prevent the seventh-seeded Wolfpack from getting shoot it.
St. Rose “got their hands on the ball and I think everyone dove for the ball,” said Berube, who was then soaked in a “water party” in the locker room and led her wet press conference.
The Tigers (24-5), who held the Wolfpack scoreless for the final 5:43 of the game, raced down center field screaming in jubilation at their improbable victory.
This is the second straight season that Princeton has won a first-round game. The Tigers beat Kentucky last season before losing a point to Indiana in the second round.
The Tigers men’s and women’s teams are the first Ivy League duo to advance in the NCAA Tournament after the men’s team upset second-seeded Arizona on Thursday.
“We watched that game and we looked at each other and we were like, ‘Okay, we’re next. It’s our turn,” said Julia Cunningham, who had 14 points and eight assists for the Tigers.
Mimi Collins scored 14 points and Madison Hayes and Jaki Brown-Turner each had 10 points, but the Wolfpack missed their last five shots and had five turnovers in the streak.
“We got the photos we wanted. Some of them circled in and out. Their defense was good, but I feel like…our shots just weren’t falling,” Collins said.
Aziaha James was the catalyst in pushing the Wolfpack (20-12) lead to 63-55 with a steal and back-to-back layups with 5:44 to play, but they went out of scoring.
“It’s a tough loss. Heartbreaking,” North Carolina State coach Wes Moore said.
The Tigers scored the first 10 points of the third quarter but then cooled off against defensive pressure from the Wolfpack. North Carolina State regained the lead 55-51 by forcing 12 straight misses from Princeton in the final 6:52 of the period.
“We’ve been through periods where we’ve struggled to score and we know our defense is going to keep us in games,” Stone said and quoted their motto – ‘Defence travels!’
The Wolfpack started the match without point guard and top scorer Diamond Johnson, who has an ankle injury that has been hampering him for weeks. They looked uncomfortable and missed their first seven shots.
To make matters worse, his replacement James, who started, injured his leg with 9:21 left in the second quarter and had to be helped off the field. She later returned to trigger North Carolina State.
But the Wolfpack used their physical advantage inside to take a 41-35 halftime lead through post players Collins and Hayes who both scored 10 points off the bench in the first half.
The Tigers have now won 16 straight before facing host Utah (the second seed) on Sunday afternoon.
“Wow! So thrilled with this win. I mean, that’s what it’s all about,” Berube said as the Tigers advanced. next step.”
BIG PICTURE
Princeton: The Tigers used defense when their offense faltered and came through when it mattered most. The Tigers allowed just 52.5 points per game this year and their toughness won the day when they were down eight points.
NC State: The Wolfpack arrived with their lowest seed since 2016-17 but seemed to have the skill and strength to control the game. But the Wolfpack couldn’t look clean when the Tigers got desperate and disruptive. ——
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