ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell women's basketball team will be challenged in its first road Ivy League back-to-back of the 2019-20 campaign, as the Big Red prepares to go head-to-head with preseason conference favorites Princeton on Friday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. in Princeton, N.J. and Penn on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in Philadelphia.

GAME INFORMATION

GAME #17: Cornell at Princeton
GAME TIME: Friday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m.
GAME SITE: Jadwin Gymnasium (Princeton, N.J.)
SERIES RECORD: Princeton leads, 58-21
LAST MEETING: Princeton won, 68-47, on March 16, 2019 (New Haven, Conn.)
2019-20 RECORDS: Cornell (9-7, 2-2 Ivy League), Princeton (15-1, 3-0 Ivy League)
LIVE VIDEO (ESPN+): es.pn/2UqLMvX
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GAME #18: Cornell at Penn
GAME TIME: Saturday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.
GAME SITE: The Palestra (Philadelphia, Pa.)
SERIES RECORD: Penn leads, 60-21
LAST MEETING: Penn won, 69-58, on Feb. 23, 2019 (Philadelphia, Pa.)
2019-20 RECORDS: Cornell (9-7, 2-2 Ivy League), Penn (11-5, 1-2 Ivy League)
LIVE VIDEO (ESPN+): es.pn/2UsOIbA
LIVE STATS: bit.ly/2GXlUzO
TICKETS: bit.ly/2v7rjl4

*Records prior to Friday's contests.

FULL GAME NOTES

SETTING THE SCENE:

The Big Red will be up against stiff competition this weekend, taking on the two teams that were predicted to finish atop the conference in the Ivy League's annual preseason poll prior to the start of the 2019-20 season. Princeton has been close to perfect, boasting an impressive 15-1 record, with its only loss coming at power-five foe Iowa in overtime. Penn has been in a bit of a slump lately, losing four of its last five contests. After being on the road for its last four games, the Quakers will be eager to pick up a win and defend its home court where they are 5-1 this season.

QUICK HITS:

• In its first Ivy League back-to-back of the 2019-20 season, the Big Red split its pair of matchups at Newman Arena, defeating Brown, 74-63, on Friday, Jan. 31 before falling to Yale, 74-67, on Saturday, Feb. 1.
• Cornell was paced by New Jersey natives Shannon Mulroy and Samantha Widmann, who have really come into their own since Ivy League play has started.
• Mulroy recorded her second-consecutive 20-point performance against Brown on Friday, notching 22 points and a game- and career-high seven assists. Through Cornell's four Ivy League contests, the freshman is averaging 18.8 points per game.
• Widmann posted a pair of 20-point outings over the weekend, dropping 25 in the Big Red's victory over Brown and tallying 20 against Yale. Her 25 points against the Bears marked a season-high and she currently leads the Big Red in scoring (14.4 ppg).
• With both Mulroy and Widmann scoring 20 points against Brown, this marked the first time that Cornell has had two student-athletes score 20 in the same contest since Nia Marshall (24) and Nicholle Aston (21) did so in a 79-61 win at Loyola (Md.) on Dec. 22, 2014.
• Senior forward Laura Bagwell-Katalinich was recently named one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award in collegiate women's basketball, becoming only the second Cornell women's basketball player to receive this honor (Allyson DiMagno '14).
• Bagwell-Katalinich has been a scoring machine during her two seasons with the Big Red, notching double figures in 35 out of the 42 games she has played in a Cornell uniform.
• Cornell has defended the paint with pride this season, regularly out-rebounding its opponent. The Big Red currently owns a +10.5 rebounding margin, a mark which ranks sixth in all of Division I.
• Dayna Smith, the Rebecca Quinn Morgan '60 Head Coach of Women's Basketball, is now just three wins away from amassing 200 for her career. She stands as the winningest coach in Big Red women's basketball history.
• Head Coach Dayna Smith was an assistant coach at Penn from 1999-2002, helping the Quakers to an undefeated Ivy title in 2000-01.

THE SERIES VS. PRINCETON:

• Princeton leads the all-time series, 58-21.
• Cornell's rivalry with the Tigers began during the 1974-75 season with a 51-33 Princeton victory, but after this meeting, the teams did not meet again until the 1979-80 campaign.
• The schools have met every year since.
• Cornell snapped a series-high 17-game winning streak by the Tigers with a 55-44 victory in 2016-17, but Princeton is once again on a streak, winning the last five matchups between the two schools.
• The Tigers swept the Big Red last season, defeating Cornell for a third time at the 2019 Ivy League Tournament.

A WIN OVER PRINCETON WOULD:

• Improve the Big Red to 10-7 overall and 3-2 in Ivy League play.
• Be Cornell's first victory over the Tigers since the 2016-17 season.
• Snap Princeton's five-game win streak over the Big Red.
• Hand the Tigers its first home loss of the season and only its second loss of the 2019-20 season, ultimately snapping Princeton's current 11-game win streak.
• Give Coach Smith 198 career victories, only two away from notching 200 for her career.

SCOUTING PRINCETON (15-1, 3-0 Ivy):

• Princeton has been a force to be reckoned with all season, not just in the Ivy League, but nationally.
• The Tigers are receiving votes in both the AP Poll and USA Today Coaches' Poll and were ranked as high as No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll and No. 25 in the AP Poll earlier this season.
• The defending Ivy League regular season and tournament champion, Princeton is currently on an 11-game win streak and has not lost at home all season.
• The Tigers are led by two-time Ivy League Player of the Year Bella Alarie, who is averaging 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game and was named a semifinalist for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year earlier this week.
• Carlie Littlefield is also averaging double figures (13.9 ppg) while leading the team in assists at 3.2 per game.

THE SERIES VS. PENN:

• Penn leads the all-time series, 60-21.
• Cornell's rivalry with the Quakers began during the 1974-75 season and the two teams have met every year since, excluding the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons.
• Cornell's longest winning streak in the series came when the Big Red won three consecutive from 2010-12.
• Penn has won 12 of the last 14 meetings between the two schools, including the last six.
• The Quakers swept the teams' two matchups last season and has swept Cornell in each of the last three seasons.

A WIN OVER PENN WOULD:

• Be Cornell's first victory over Penn since Feb. 26, 2016.
• Be Cornell's first victory over Penn at The Palestra since Feb 6, 2015.
• Snap Penn's current six-game win streak over the Big Red.

SCOUTING PENN (11-5, 1-2 Ivy):

• Barring the results of its game against Columbia on Friday, Penn has lost four of its last five contests, but don't let that fool you.
• Prior to this lapse, the Quakers won 10 of its first 11 games, and its two Ivy League losses have come against perennially-strong Princeton and Harvard.
• Penn defeated Dartmouth, 66-33, in its last outing on Feb. 1, marking the program's 600th win.
• The Quakers are an impressive 5-1 at home this season.
• Penn is led by standout freshman Kayla Padilla, who is a two-time Ivy League Player of the Week and five-time Rookie of the Week so far this season. She leads the Ivy League in scoring (19.3 ppg).
• Phoebe Sterba (10.5) and Eleah Parker (10.1) are both averaging double-digit points per game. Parker also leads the Ivy League in blocked shots (2.3 bpg) and has moved into third all-time in Penn history for career blocks.
• Kendall Grasela leads the Ivy League in assists (4.6 apg) and assist/turnover ratio (3.2).

SEASON NOTES TO KNOW:

• The Big Red is 8-0 when it has scored at least 70 points.
• The Big Red is 7-2 when it has held its opponent to 60 points or fewer.
• The Big Red is 8-0 when it is leading with two minutes left in the game.
• Samantha Widmann has started 69 and played in 95 consecutive games.
• Laura Bagwell-Katalinich and Samantha Widmann have combined to lead the team in rebounding in every contest of the 2019-20 campaign.
• Samantha Widmann and Laura Bagwell-Katalinich have both scored in double-figures 12 times this season.  

NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS:

With its 7-5 record in non-conference play, the Big Red has secured a winning non-conference record in seven of the last eight seasons.

CONSISTENCY IS KEY:

The Big Red has stuck with the same starting-five in all 16 contests that it has played this season. Freshman point guard Shannon Mulroy, junior guard Kate Sramac, senior guard/forward Samantha Widmann, junior forward Halley Miklos, and senior forward Laura Bagwell-Katalinich have gotten the starting nod for the Big Red every time it has taken the floor this season.

PROTECTING THE RIM:

The Big Red has protected the rim this season, outrebounding its opponent in 12 of its 16 contests while holding its opponents to an Ivy League-best 29.6 rebounds/game. Even more impressive, the Big Red leads the Ivy League in offensive rebounds (14.3/game) and currently ranks sixth in the nation and first in the conference in rebounding margin, out-rebounding its opponents by an average of 10.5 rebounds per game.

SHARING THE WEALTH:

Cornell has been selfless with the basketball so far this season, leading the Ivy League as a team in assists/game (17.1) and having four student-athletes ranked in the top-25 of the conference in this statistical category: Shannon Mulroy (6th – 3.2 apg), Kate Sramac (8th – 3.1 apg), Samantha Widmann (11th – 2.8 apg), and Laura Bagwell-Katalinich (21st – 2.1 apg). Thanks to this team effort, Cornell sits 17th in the nation in assists/game (17.1).

POINTS IN THE PAINT:

Cornell has found a way to generate high percentage shots through its 16 contests, and the team has capitalized on them, currently leading the Ivy League and ranking 28th in the nation in field goal percentage (.449). The Big Red is averaging 34.0 points in the paint per game, accounting for approximately half of the team's scoring.

STEALING THE SHOW:

Kate Sramac (1.9 spg) and Samantha Widmann (1.8 spg) have put the pressure on the opposition, forcing turnovers and collecting steals, as the pair currently ranks sixth and eighth, respectively, in the Ivy League in steals per game. Widmann has had a knack for stealing the basketball over the course of her career, as her 159 career steals ranks eighth all-time in Cornell women's basketball history.

THREE'S COMPANY:

Samantha Widmann (14.4 ppg), Laura Bagwell-Katalinich (14.3 ppg), and Shannon Mulroy (10.6 ppg) have been the core of the Big Red offense this season, all averaging double figures and accounting for nearly 60 percent of the team's scoring. Mulroy and Widmann have taken their games to a whole new level since Ivy League play commenced, averaging 18.8 and 17.5 points per game, respectively, through Cornell's first four conference contests.

REBOUNDING MAGNETS:

Laura Bagwell-Katalinich (7.6 rpg) and Samantha Widmann (7.4 rpg) have been key contributors to Cornell's strong rebounding presence, as one of the two has led the team in rebounding in every game of the 2019-20 campaign.

WIDMANN SURPASSES 1,000:

With her second basket in Cornell's contest against Columbia on Jan. 25, 2020, Samantha Widmann became the 15th player in Big Red women's basketball history to score 1,000 career points. Widmann has now scored 1,050 points for her career, the 14th-most in program history.

MOVING ON UP:

Samantha Widmann has worked her way into the top-10 all-time in Cornell women's basketball history in career offensive rebounds (6th - 201) and career defensive rebounds (8th - 364), as well as career steals (8th - 159).

NCAA TEAM RANKINGS:

As a team, Cornell ranks within the top-75 of the NCAA in the following statistical categories:
• 6th in rebounding margin (+10.5)
• 17th in assists per game (17.1)
• 28th in field goal percentage (.449)
• 34th in 3-pt field goal percentage (35.7)
• 75th in scoring margin (7.9)

NCAA INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS:

Several Big Red student-athletes are making their presence known on the national stage, ranking in the top-100 of the NCAA in the following statistical categories:
• Samantha Widmann – 41st in field goal percentage (.542), 58th in minutes played per game (35.8)
• Laura Bagwell-Katalinich – 76th in field goal percentage (.506)

IVY LEAGUE INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS:

The following Big Red student-athletes rank among the best in the Ivy League in the following statistical categories:
• Samantha Widmann – 2nd in field goal percentage (.542), 2nd in minutes played (35.6/game), 5th in rebounding (7.4 rpg), 7th in scoring (14.4 ppg), 8th in steals (1.8 spg), 11th in assists (2.8 apg)
• Laura Bagwell-Katalinich – 3rd in field goal percentage (.506), 4th in rebounding (7.6 rpg), 4th in free throw percentage (.719), 8th in scoring (14.3 ppg)
• Kate Sramac –4th in assist/turnover ratio (1.5), 6th in steals (1.9 spg),  8th in assists (3.1 apg), 12th in 3-PT field goals per game (1.5)
• Shannon Mulroy – 6th in assists (3.2 apg), 7th in 3-PT field goals per game (1.9), 8th in assist/turnover ratio (1.0), 14th in scoring (10.7 ppg)
• Theresa Grace Mbanefo –7th in blocks (0.9 bpg)

A CLASS OF HER OWN:

Laura Bagwell-Katalinich was selected as one of 30 candidates for the 2019-20 Senior CLASS Award in collegiate women's basketball. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
 
With this honor, Bagwell-Katalinich becomes only the second student-athlete in Cornell women's basketball history to be named a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award, joining Allyson DiMagno '14, who was in the running for the award for the 2013-14 season.

MULROY SWEEPS IVY LEAGUE PLAYER AND ROOKIE OF THE WEEK AWARDS:

After a spectacular performance in the Cornell women's basketball team's thrilling 80-77 overtime win over Columbia on Saturday, Jan. 25, freshman point guard Shannon Mulroy swept the Ivy League's weekly awards, being named both the conference's Player and Rookie of the Week.
 
With this accomplishment, Mulroy not only receives the first Player and Rookie of the Week honors of her career, but she is only the second Big Red women's basketball student-athlete ever to earn both awards in the same week (Nia Marshall). In addition to receiving recognition from the Ivy League, Mulroy was also named the conference's Player of the Week by College Sports Madness.
 
The freshman made it rain, pouring in a game- and career-high 27 points and sinking seven 3-point baskets, just as many as the entire Columbia team. She shot an impressive 8-of-16 from the floor and 7-of-14 from long range, and her seven 3-pointers in a contest ranks third all-time in Cornell women's basketball history. She also went a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe in some of the biggest moments of the contest.

BAGWELL-KATALINICH NAMED IVY LEAGUE PLAYER OF WEEK:

For the first time of her career, Cornell women's basketball senior forward Laura Bagwell-Katalinich was named the Ivy League Player of the Week, the conference announced on Monday, Nov. 25. In addition to being honored by the conference, Bagwell-Katalinich was also deemed the College Sports Madness Ivy League Player of the Week.
 
Between Cornell's two contests against Niagara and Delaware State, Bagwell-Katalinich averaged 25.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. In addition, she shot 13-of-14 from the charity stripe over the two games, including a perfect 10-of-10 against Niagara.

RECAPPING THE 2018-19 SEASON:

The Big Red finished the season with a 12-14 overall record and a mark of 6-8 in the Ivy League. After winning three of its final four contests, the Big Red finished in a tie for fourth place in the Ivy League and clinched a spot in the Ivy League Tournament for the first time since the tournament's inception three years ago.

WHAT WAS LOST:

• The Big Red graduated one senior from the 2018-19 squad in co-captain Samantha Clement, also losing one letter winner as well as one non-letter winner.

WHAT REMAINS:

• Cornell returns all five starters and nine letter winners from a year ago. 
• The team returns its top scorer (16.1 ppg) and rebounder (7.9 rpg) from 2018-19 in Laura Bagwell-Katalinich, as well as its second leading scorer (10.8) and rebounder (6.9), Samantha Widmann.
• Widmann and Bagwell-Katalinich will serve as captains for the 2019-20 season.
• Widmann enters her third term as team captain, becoming only the second player in program history (Karen Force '04) to serve as a three-time team captain.
• Bagwell-Katalinich returns to the team after becoming only the 11th player in program history to be named first team All-Ivy League.
• Senior point guard Danielle Jorgenson returns invaluable experience, starting 53 consecutive games over her sophomore and junior seasons.
• Kate Sramac and Halley Miklos are back and ready to make an even bigger impact this season after making 19 and 17 starts, respectively, a season ago.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK:

• The Big Red added four freshmen to the 2019-20 squad.
• The group hails from four different states – California, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York.
• The group consists of one point guard (Shannon Mulroy), two guards (Ania McNicholas, KC Carter), and one forward (Anna Hovis).

IVY PRESEASON RANKINGS:

•  The Big Red was picked fifth overall in the 2019-20 Ivy League Preseason Media Poll with 60 voter points.
• This marked vast improvement from last season, when the Big Red were selected eighth in the preseason poll.
• Princeton and Penn tied for first in the poll, each collecting 125 voter points after sharing the regular season Ivy League crown in 2018-19.
• Princeton held a slight advantage in the voting after winning the 2019 Ivy League Tournament, receiving 10 first place votes as compared to Penn's seven.
• Harvard (95) and Yale (90), were selected to finish third and fourth, respectively.
• Columbia (47), Dartmouth (47), and Brown (23) rounded out the bottom three.

HEAD COACH DAYNA SMITH:

• In her 18th season at the helm of the Big Red program, head coach Dayna Smith ranks fourth overall in Ivy League women's basketball history in years served as a head coach in the conference.
• Only one active coach, Harvard's Kathy Delaney-Smith (37th season), ranks ahead of Cornell's Smith.
• Smith is the winningest coach in Cornell history, and reached the 150-win mark for her career with the team's overtime victory vs. Dartmouth on Jan. 30, 2016.
• She currently stands at 197 career victories, just three away from reaching 200 for her career.

FRESH PERSPECTIVES:

Coach Smith welcomed two new assistant coaches to the staff for the 2019-20 season - Claire Mattox (Washington College '14) and Joe Rutigliano (Canisius '15).

UP NEXT:

The Big Red women's basketball team will return home to host Harvard on Friday, Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. and Dartmouth on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. at Newman Arena in Ithaca, N.Y.