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NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Top-seed Princeton used a solid first quarter to build a lead, and then dominated the third quarter to put the game out of reach, as the Tigers defeated the Big Red women's basketball game 68-47 this evening in the first semifinal game of the Ivy League Women's Basketball Tournament presented by TIAA.
 
Cornell concludes its season with a record of 12-14 overall (6-8 Ivy).
 
"Congratulations to Princeton," said Dayna Smith, the Rebecca Quinn Morgan '60 Head Coach of Cornell in the postgame press conference. "It was a terrific victory for them, but we were disappointed in our execution both offensively and defensively. We talked about mental mistakes. People in the wrong defense. Poor execution on offense. Not looking for some of the things we knew we could exploit against Princeton. When you do that against a good team like they are, they jump on you. So our mistakes were magnified and they're very tough to come back against." 
 
Cornell was led by Samantha Widmann's team-high 10 points and five rebounds, while Laura Bagwell-Katalinich chipped in nine points and a team-best six rebounds. With her performance, Bagwell-Katalanich moved into the top 10 in Cornell history for points and rebounds in a single season, a feat accomplished by just two other players in Big Red history – Rhonda Anderson (1982-83: third – 462 points; second – 287 rebounds) and Nia Marshall (2014-15: fourth – 455 points; 10th – 205 rebounds).
 
 Widmann also had three steals and two assists, while Danielle Jorgenson posted a game-best six helpers.
 
Princeton (21-9) proved to be too much offensively, as Ivy League Player of the Year Bella Alarie was nearly perfect, going 9-of-10 from the floor, including connecting on her only 3-point attempt, and hitting both foul shots, en route to a 21-point night. She also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.
 
Bolstered by Alarie's performance, the Tigers shot better and 58 percent overall from the floor (27-48) and beyond the arc (7-of-12).
 
Cornell battled the much bigger Princeton squad and was nearly even in rebounds (34-31), and forced the Tigers into five extra miscues (23-18) as both teams finished with 11 steals.
 
Princeton scored the first five points of the contest, but the Big Red battled back to stay within striking distance before seven unanswered points pushed the Tigers lead to double-digits (18-8) on a layup from Alarie with 4:01 to go in the quarter. The teams traded baskets the rest of the way and Princeton took the 25-15 lead into the first break.
 
Cornell came out battling in the second quarter and pulled within six points on a trey from Caitlyn Smith, but once again the Tigers had an answer and took a 37-25 lead into the half.
 
Everything clicked for Princeton in the third quarter, as the top-seed went on a 22-2 run to put the game away. The Tigers led, 59-30, at the end of the third and eventually took its largest lead (34 points) early in the fourth quarter. With both team subbing liberally, Cornell closed the gap as Princeton rolled to the 68-47 final.
 
"I'm very proud of them," said Smith. "Our goal all year was to get here. Now our goal needs to be to get back here and to win. So we're going to be hungry. We're going to take it personally. And we're going to be back."