Buzzer-Beater Stuns Yale, Gives Dartmouth First Home Win Over Bulldogs Since 2009

Friday, February 22

Hanover, N.H.

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

11-11

Yale

15-9

Yale Bulldogs

Dartmouth

Photo by: Doug Austin

Buzzer-Beater Stuns Yale, Gives Dartmouth First Home Win Over Bulldogs Since 2009

2/22/2019 9:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Paula Lenart rebounded a heave by Isalys Quinones and won the game

By: Mike Miezejeski

HANOVER, N.H. – Paula Lenart secured an offensive rebound underneath the hoop with 1.3 seconds remaining and threw up a shot that hung on the rim before falling in to beat the Bulldogs at the buzzer, 56-54. It was the first win at Leede Arena for Dartmouth (11-11, 4-5 Ivy) over Yale (15-9, 5-4 Ivy) since March of 2009.

The win keeps Dartmouth in fifth place in the Ivy league standings and right on the doorstep of the fourth and final spot for the conference tournament with five games left to play.

Lenart finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, while Isalys Quinones led the game with 18 points. Katie Douglas provided valuable minutes off the bench, finishing with 13 points. Annie McKenna filled the stat sheet with five points, eight assists, six steals and five rebounds. Elle Louie had a strong game defensively while also chipping in eight points.

"Really proud of our team's effort tonight, we had a total team effort with their energy, enthusiasm and preparation this week," said Belle Koclanes, the Gail Koziara Boudreaux '82 and Family Head Coach of Women's Basketball. "Everyone is stepping up in their roles and playing with more aggressiveness, particularly on the offensive side of the coin. We also talked about stepping up defensively and there were many motivating factors coming into tonight that led us to win the game."

After a tough first quarter, where Dartmouth found themselves trailing, 18-8, the Big Green flipped the script and turned up the intensity on defense. The home team only allowed two points in the second, outscoring Yale, 12-2, clawing back to tie the game at 20 at halftime.

Dartmouth rode that wave into the third. Quinones scored seven straight points to build the Big Green advantage to 27-23 early in the quarter. Louie, Douglas and McKenna kept it going with big plays to extend Dartmouth's lead to 38-30 at the end of three.

Yale came back in the fourth and even took a 49-45 advantage with 3:34 left in regulation. Quinones and Lenart fueled a quick 7-0 run to put the Big Green back on top, but a 3-pointer by Yale's Robin Gallagher put the Bulldogs ahead, 54-52 with 1:27 to go.

Not only did Lenart hit the game winner, but she made the basket to tie the game at 54 with 29 seconds left off an assist from McKenna. Yale looked to have the final shot but strong defense by the Big Green forced a turnover, giving Dartmouth the ball in the front court with 4.7 seconds left.

Louie inbounded to Quinines at the top of the key and Quinones' deep three was well short. Luckily, Lenart was at the right place at the time for the rebound and stuck the buzzer beater to fire up a celebration at Leede Arena.

Dartmouth stays in Hanover for a crucial meeting with Brown on Saturday at 5 p.m.