During the final possession of North Carolina State’s game, the Tigers once again brought their trademark defensive intensity, disrupting the Wolfpack’s offense and preventing them from taking a shot.
According to Berube, “St. Rose managed to get a hand on the ball, and then it seemed like everyone dove in to secure it.” Berube, drenched from a celebratory “water party” in the locker room, conducted her press conference while still wet.
With a resolute defensive stand that kept the Wolfpack scoreless for the last 5:43 of the game, the Tigers (24-5) raced to the center of the court, celebrating their unexpected triumph with exuberant shouts.
This victory marks Princeton’s second consecutive win in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Last year, the Tigers defeated Kentucky before narrowly losing to Indiana in the subsequent round.
Both the men’s and women’s teams from Princeton have advanced in the NCAA Tournament, a first for any Ivy League school after the men’s team’s upset of second-seeded Arizona.
Julia Cunningham, who contributed 14 points and eight assists, said, “We watched their game and thought, ‘It’s our turn now.’” Mimi Collins and Madison Hayes both scored 14 points, while Jaki Brown-Turner added 10. Despite their efforts, the Wolfpack missed their last five shots and committed five turnovers in the crucial moments.
Collins commented, “We got the looks we wanted, but some shots didn’t go in. Their defense was solid, but our shots just weren’t falling.” Aziaha James had initially extended the Wolfpack’s lead to 63-55 with a steal and consecutive layups, but North Carolina State failed to score thereafter.
North Carolina State coach Wes Moore expressed his disappointment, stating, “It’s a tough loss. Heartbreaking.” The Tigers began the third quarter with a 10-0 run but struggled as the Wolfpack’s defense tightened. North Carolina State regained the lead by forcing Princeton to miss 12 consecutive shots over the final 6:52 of the period.
Stone noted, “We’ve had scoring droughts before, but we rely on our defense to keep us in games,” referring to their motto, “Defense Travels!”
Missing their leading scorer, Diamond Johnson, due to an ankle injury, the Wolfpack struggled early and missed their first seven shots. James, her backup, was also sidelined briefly with a lower leg injury but returned to make an impact.
Despite their physical dominance inside, North Carolina State held a 41-35 lead at halftime thanks to contributions from Collins and Hayes off the bench.
The Tigers now head into their game against second-seeded Utah on Sunday with a 16-game winning streak. Berube reflected on the win, saying, “I’m thrilled with the victory. That’s what it’s all about. Now, we need to keep moving forward.”