ITHACA, N.Y. — The Cornell women's basketball team defeated Yale 57-40 in New Haven on Saturday afternoon for the first time since 2019. With the win, the Big Red move to 6-15 overall and 2-6 in the Ivy League and break Yale's eight-game win-streak over Cornell.
The first quarter was a low-scoring defensive battle that began with Yale jumping out to an early 5-0 lead. Cornell answered back with a six-point run to take the lead 6-5. The teams then traded baskets before the Big Red went on a four-point run to end the quarter up 12-8 over the Bulldogs. In the second quarter, Cornell was able to become more effective on the offensive side of the ball, finding its rhythm which began with a six-point run to start the quarter. Yale was able to bring the score within three a couple times throughout, but the Big Red constantly found breakaways to regain the lead, ending the half up 27-18 over the Bulldogs. Cornell came into the second half soaring and never waivered, out-scoring the Bulldogs 30-22 to maintain a 17-point lead and take the win 57-40.
Summer Parker-Hall led the Big Red in scoring with 17 points adn went 7-7 from the field and 3-3 from the free-throw line. Paige Engels also scored double digits with ten points, Azareya Kilgoe had nine, Rachel Kaus notched seven, Clarke Jackson had six and Kelsey Langston and Audrey Chen rounded out the Big Red scoring with three each. Yale was led in scoring by Mackenzie Egger who had nine.
The Big Red was strong on the defensive side of the ball and dominated the boards. Cornell had 42 boards to Yale's 28. Emily Pape, Parker-Hall and Kaus all had six rebounds, Engels and Jackson each had five, Kilgoe had three and Langston and Vivienne Knee rounded out the Big Red boards with one each. Cornell had three steals to Yale's five with Jackson having all three for the Big Red. Each team had one block, for Cornell it was Parker-Hall.
Cornell saw a lot of fast-break moments throughout the game and used its dribble as a main strength. The Big Red did record 11 assists on the afternoon with Paige Engels leading the effort with four. Jackson and Pape each notched two assists and Kilgoe, Knee and Alana Andrews each had one.
The Big Red's aggressive defense coupled with its effective offensive scheme against Yale was able to secure Cornell women's basketball its second Ivy League win of the season.
UP NEXT
The Big Red head home for its next packed weekend of games. Cornell will take on Harvard on Friday, Feb. 14 at 6:00 p.m. and Dartmouth on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 5:00 p.m. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
