PRINCETON, N.J. – With a single made free throw in the closing moments of the second quarter, Cornell senior forward Nia Marshall became Cornell women's basketball's all-time leading scorer, surpassing Karen Walker '91, who was in attendance at Princeton to see her mark of 1,650 career points eclipsed. More importantly, the second free throw of the series brought the Big Red within two points at the half (17-15) and the visitors stuck around before a dominant fourth quarter handed Cornell a 55-44 victory over Princeton. The win improves the Big Red to 15-10 overall (6-6 Ivy) and snaps a 17-game losing streak to the Tigers.
 
"I talked to Nia last year during the Phone-a-thon," said Walker following the contest. "When she introduced herself, I said, 'You're the one who's going to break my record!' I've been following her and I'm excited for her. I'm excited for the program. I think it's amazing that she's breaking the record with the team success that they are having this season. I think it's amazing that Cornell women's basketball has come so far. And she's a fantastic player. I'm excited to see her get this accolade. When I broke the record, I did it at home, and I remember [former school record holder] Rhonda [Anderson] being there and giving me the game ball, and Rhonda is here tonight as well."
 
While Marshall's performance was one for the record books, it was a balanced effort overall with four Big Red in double-digits. Nicholle Aston led the way with 14 points, including four straight to put Cornell up for good at the start of the fourth quarter. She also added eight rebounds, three blocked shots and one steal. Marshall finished the night with her third double-double of the season and the 13th of her career with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Kerri Moran and Megan LeDuc each finished with 11 points and three assists.
 
Princeton (14-10, 8-3 Ivy) was led by Leslie Robinson and Vanessa Smith with 12 and 10 points, respectively, as the Tigers had an eight-game winning streak ended. 
 
QUOTABLE NIA MARSHALL
It's really surreal right now. It was so nice to see Karen [Walker] and Rhonda [Anderson] here. When I was taking a picture with them after the game I said 'I feel like I'm in the presence of greatness.' It's crazy that I get to stand in-between two amazing players that meant so much to the program and to know that could be me in the future coming back and seeing the next girl who breaks the record. On top of that, it was an amazing win. We haven't beaten Princeton in my four years. This is one of the best days. Just seeing the joy on my teammates' faces … It's amazing.

COACH'S CORNER – DAYNA SMITH
We didn't schematically do anything different in the fourth quarter. We focused in on some of the dives they had success on during the third quarter. We tightened up on our off-ball defense. The biggest difference was forcing them into tough shots and when they didn't finish we got some big rebounds.
 
Nicholle [Aston] hit some big shots in the middle of the zone to get us going a little bit. I think Kerri [Moran] had a tremendous third quarter. We ran a couple things for her and she went in strong and had some tough finishes. That took the load off Nia and Nicholle. Then Megan [LeDuc] loosened up and hit a couple big shots for us.
 
What a special night for Nia. Having Karen Walker and Rhonda Anderson here is a special way to celebrate. Records are tough to break and to have two tremendous players from the program's past, along with some other alumni in the gym, we had great support. For Nia to see the history before her eyes and for Karen and Rhonda to see how the program has evolved, as a coach it's neat to see. For me to see the three of them talking after the game will be a special memory for me, and I'm sure it will be really special for Nia.
 
TURNING POINT
With the game knotted at 38-38 heading into the final quarter, Aston knocked down consecutive foul line jumpers and Marshall made it six unanswered to put Cornell up, 44-38, with 8:23 to play. Princeton didn't get its first points until the 6:17 mark of the quarter when Vanessa Smith hit a pair of free throws, but Cornell didn't buckle, using tough defense to hold the Tigers to just four more points the rest of the way as Cornell sealed the 55-44 victory.
 
HOW WE GOT THERE
Trailing at the half, 17-15, Moran scored on a driving layup on Cornell's first possession of the third quarter to tie the game and moments later a driving layup from LeDuc gave the visitors their first lead in nearly 20 minutes of game time.
 
The teams traded buckets until a pair of made free throws from Aston and a traditional three-point play by Moran put Cornell up, 30-26, with 4:49 to go in the third.
 
Princeton knotted the game at 30-30, but Caroline Shelquist came in off the bench and knocked down a trey on her first touch of the game to restore the slim lead to the Big Red. The teams traded jumpers the rest of the way and went into the final break tied for the final time at 38-38.  Altogether there were eight ties and eight lead changes in the contest. 
 
UP NEXT
The Big Red will play its final games of the regular season, and honor the team's five seniors – Nicholle Aston, Taylor DePalma, Megan LeDuc, Nia Marshall and Kerri Moran – when it welcomes Yale and Brown to Newman Arena. Cornell will take on the Bulldogs on Friday, March 3 at 6 p.m., before welcoming the Bears on Saturday, March 4 at 5 p.m. The Big Red enters the final weekend of play sitting in fourth place in the conference standings, which is good enough to earn a coveted spot in the first-ever Ivy League Basketball Tournament, and Cornell controls its own destiy as it sits above fifth-place Yale and Brown.