INSIDE PRESENCE: Princeton University women’s basketball player Alex Wheatley, center, fights for inside position in a recent game. Last Saturday, junior forward Wheatley scored 17 points and had eight rebounds and three assists to help Princeton top Georgetown 83-54. The Tigers improved to 8-0 with the victory, the best start in the history of Ivy League women‘s basketball. In upcoming action, Princeton was slated to play at Michigan on December 9 before hosting Binghamton on December 13. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Alex Wheatley and her teammates on the Princeton University women’s basketball squad brought a little extra fire into their game against visiting Georgetown last Saturday.

“I think it was losing to Georgetown last year at the buzzer that fueled it today,” said junior forward Alex Wheatley, referring to Princeton’s 66-64 loss to the Hoyas a year ago.

On Saturday, Wheatley fueled Princeton in the first half, matching her season-high of 15 points by intermission, hitting 7-of-8 shots in the first 20 minutes of the contest.

“I think we came out with a lot of energy,” said Wheatley, a 6’2 native of Upper Holland, Pa. “The guards did a great job of looking into the post so I was able to get some easy finishes at the start of the game which I really think set a good tone.”

Leading by only 40-35 at halftime, the Tigers looked to change the tone defensively over the last 20 minutes of the contest.

“The message was defense, we really had to step up our defense,” said Wheatley.

“That was literally all we talked about at halftime and we came out in the second half and our defense was so much better and it made a big difference.”

Outscoring the Hoyas 18-9 over the first eight minutes of the second half, Princeton pulled away to an 83-54 win.

“I think we got more into our rhythm, we set the pace,” said Wheatley, who ended the game with 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.

“We wanted to get stops into scores and get back into transition points. I think once we were able to dictate the pace a little bit and get stops, the game came a little easier.”

The Tigers have been in rhythm all season long as they improved to 8-0 with the victory over Georgetown, the best start in the history of Ivy League women‘s basketball.

“I think we took it one game at a time; we weren’t really looking to see where we would be at this point but 8-0 is a good start,” said Wheatley.

“I hear it was the best ever in Ivy so it is a great start. We are looking to keep going one game at a time and try to win.”

In Wheatley’s view, a focus on defense has keyed Princeton’s sizzling start.

“Our defense is vastly improved from last year and that is really what we are hanging our hats on this year,” said Wheatley. “As our opponents get tougher and tougher and as the season goes on, we really need to keep our defensive intensity.”

Coming into her junior campaign, Wheatley set her sights on improving her offensive and leadership skills.

“I have worked on being more confident with the ball in the post and trying to step up my leadership on and off the floor,” said Wheatley, who is averaging 11.1 points and 5.3 rebounds a game this season.

“I think as a class, the juniors, having a little bit more experience and being more comfortable has helped the team dynamic.”

Princeton head coach Courtney Banghart liked Wheatley’s dynamic play in the early stages of the contest against Georgetown.

“In the first half, she was huge,” said Banghart. “Wheatley is a gentle kid we are asking to be physical. She is a work in progress. As she continues to get more and more physical, we will continue to get better.”

In the wake of last year’s disappointing buzzer-beater defeat to Georgetown, Princeton was determined to give a better effort in the rematch between the foes.

“It is a loss that still hurts to this day because  we just got out-toughed, that doesn’t happen a lot to Princeton teams,” said Banghart. “It was that game where we really shifted to you have to hate losing more than you like winning. You have to play with that edge and we are doing that.”

Senior point guard and co-captain Blake Dietrick played with an edge against the Hoyas, leading the Tigers with 26 points and six assists.

“Blake cares about winning, that’s it,” said Banghart of Dietrick, who was later named the Ivy League Co-Player of the Week along with Dartmouth’s Fanni Szabo.

“She cares about winning every drill, every practice, every possession, and she is bringing along the team as a result.”

While Banghart is happy with her team’s winning ways in its historic 8-0 start, she is more focused on process than result.

“We don’t schedule to win, we schedule to compete,” said Banghart, whose team was slated to play at Michigan on December 9 before hosting Binghamton on December 13.

“We have gotten better defensively this year. We have played a variety of opponents and have done it well. I look at it like we have won eight times. It is hard to win so I am proud of them.”

In Wheatley’s view, the Tigers have what it takes to produce a lot of wins this winter.

“I think we are finding each other’s talents,” said Wheatley. “If we keep finding that out as the season goes on, we could do something special.”