Bulldogs Improve To 7-1 At Home; Undefeated Weekend For Yale Basketball

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – For the first time since the 1979-80 season, the Yale women's basketball has started Ivy League play 4-0 after a physical 60-53 win over Cornell on Sunday afternoon, a game that was broadcasted live on the American Sports Network and local affiliates.

The Bulldogs (10-8, 4-0 Ivy) are currently riding a season-high six-game winning streak, the longest since the 2006-07 season. The last time the Elis started conference play with four wins was the 1979-80 season.

Sunday's game against the Big Red (12-6, 3-1 Ivy) was a testament to the ongoing defensive assault that Yale has launched in each of its past six games, holding Cornell to only 53 points and causing 17 turnovers.

The Elis continued to see balanced play from their entire roster, with 10 players logging minutes versus only seven for Cornell. Junior guard Whitney Wyckoff (West Chester, Ohio) scored a team-high 14 points, while four other players scored eight or more, including freshman guard Tamara Simpson's (North Babylon, N.Y.) 13.

Yale's bench outscored Cornell's, 14-4, due in large part to nine points from junior guard Nyasha Sarju (Seattle, Wash.) on 4-of-9 shooting.

The Bulldogs also led in second-chance points, holding a 12-6 edge over the Big Red. For the game, Yale grabbed 17 offensive rebounds, proving why it is first in the Ivy League in that category. Junior center Emmy Allen (Overland Park, Kan.) pulled down five offensive rebounds as part of her team-high 10-rebound performance.

The defense was the big story for the Bulldogs, however. The backcourt of Wyckoff, Simpson, and freshman guard Mary Ann Santucci (Seattle, Wash.) made life very difficult for the Big Red guards, forcing Cornell's three starting guards into a combined 12 turnovers. Yale as a team only had 11.

The three Yale guards each played 30 minutes, providing defensive tenacity up-and-down the court. Wyckoff and Simpson had three steals each for the Elis, who had nine in the game.

"We were up on them when they had the ball and then we tried to deny them catches, that was the main focus for the guards," said Wyckoff about the backcourt's defense. "Coach was saying before the game that we'll get rewarded if we pressure them and that's what happened."

Leading 50-48 with 3:15 remaining in the game, Wyckoff grabbed a defensive rebound and was the recipient of a layup off a pass from Santucci on the other end to put Yale up by four.

From that point, another solid effort of free-throw shooting for the Bulldogs ensued, resulting in 8-of-12 makes from the line to seal the victory. Allen, Wyckoff, Werner and Simpson all produced from the charity stripe to put away the visitors. Yale finished the game on a 10-5 run.

The Bulldogs grabbed 10 offensive rebounds in the second half, which contributed to the 36-24 scoring advantage it held in the final 20 minutes. Werner and Allen each scored eight points in the second half for Yale. Cornell had went into the half with a 29-24 lead.

The Bulldogs managed to narrow a once 10-point lead by the Big Red late in the first half by shooting a much-improved 40-percent from the field (10-of-25) in the second half.

"Everyone has been contributing consistently over the past couple games and that's going to be key throughout the Ivy League season," said Wyckoff when asked about the team's balance. "We don't have to rely on one person, so it's a huge advantage for us."

Cornell received an impressive performance from forward Nia Marshall, who achieved game-highs in points with 20 and rebounds with 11. Forward Nicholle Aston, who was the Ivy League Player of the Week on Jan. 26, was in foul trouble most of the game and was held to only seven points on 2-of-5 shooting.

Yale travels to Dartmouth and Harvard next weekend, looking to continue its longest winning streak in eight seasons. The Bulldogs will face the Big Green on Friday night at 7 p.m. and will meet the Crimson on Saturday night at 6 p.m.

Filed by Steve Lewis, Yale Sports Publicity