Dartmouth Captures First Ivy League Win, Defeats Cornell 48-44

Saturday, February 17

Hanover, N.H.

4:00 PM

Dartmouth College

7-15,1-9Ivy League

Cornell

7-15,1-9Ivy League

Cornell

Dartmouth

Photo by: Chloe Broeker

Dartmouth Captures First Ivy League Win, Defeats Cornell 48-44

2/17/2024 7:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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The Big Green have their first Ivy League win since Feb. 18, 2022

By: Kyle Relf

HANOVER, N.H. — Nearly two years to the day since its last Ivy League win, the Dartmouth women's basketball team picked up a 48-44 victory over Cornell on Saturday inside Leede Arena. It was the Big Green's first Ivy League triumph since Feb. 18, 2022, which also came against the Big Red, and the first conference win for first-year Gail Koziara Boudreaux '82 and Family Head Coach Linda Cimino.

"Our players are awesome and I love them so much, and I'm so happy for them," Cimino said following the game. "They haven't given up and they've worked so hard. They're invested and all-in. I'm so happy we could get this win for them."

Clare Meyer went 8-for-10 at the free throw line and led the Big Green with 14 points, in addition to her team-high 11 rebounds, to record her second double-double in three games. Victoria Page joined her in double figures with 13 points. Rachel Kaus scored a game-high 18 points for the Big Red and Emily Pape led both sides with 15 boards.

"It's been a long time coming," Meyer said. "We really stuck together today and that was what carried us over."

Cornell led by 10 at halftime, but Dartmouth chipped away until eventually taking the lead on Nina Minicozzi's 3-pointer at the 5:58 mark of the fourth quarter. The Big Green would maintain that lead thanks to clutch last-minute free throws from Page and Carrington Washburn.

Dartmouth got off to a hot start thanks in part to early triples from Page and Minicozzi, eventually leading 15-8 by the end of the first. Cornell held Dartmouth scoreless in the second quarter, all while shooting better than 50 percent from the field to outscore the Big Green 17-0 and take a 25-15 lead into the locker room.

Momentum quickly tilted in Dartmouth's favor on the first possession of the third quarter when Washburn knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the lead to seven. Consecutive trips to the line for Mia Curtis allowed the Big Green to come within four (29-25) midway through the quarter. In the final minute of the third, it was Curtis again coming through for Cimino's squad, knocking down a 3-pointer after Cornell had stretched the lead back to eight.

Page's 3-pointer at the 7:50 mark of the fourth, followed by a stop on the defensive end, and finally a pair of Meyer free throws had Dartmouth within one, 37-36. After taking the lead on Minicozzi's trey, the Big Green found the strong free throw shooting they needed in order to close it out. Page sank both with 30 seconds remaining, as did Washburn on the next possession. Washburn later went to the line with eight seconds left and hit another important free throw to deliver the four-point advantage.

The Big Green will now look to build on their momentum when they host Yale on Saturday, Feb. 24 for senior day. One possession was the difference between Dartmouth and a road victory in this season's previous meeting with the Bulldogs. The game will air on ESPN+ and live stats will be available through DartmouthSports.com. Single-game and season tickets are available through the Dartmouth Athletics Ticket Office.