ELBOW ROOM: Princeton University women’s basketball player Alex Wheatley elbows her way around a foe in recent action. Last Saturday, Wheatley scored 15 points to help Princeton defeat Pitt 61-47. On Monday, after being named Ivy League Player of the Week, she produced another strong effort, scoring 15 points and getting six rebounds to help Princeton top Fordham 55-44. The Tigers, now 9-1, play at Ohio State on December 18 and at Dayton on December 20. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Alex Wheatley was a force in the paint as the Princeton University women’s basketball team raced out to a 28-2 lead over Pittsburgh last Saturday.

The 6’2 senior center from Upper Holland, Pa, scored six points with two rebounds, a block, and an assist in that 8-minute stretch as Princeton seized control of the contest.

“I think it is really important for our offense to have an inside presence,” said Wheatley.

“One, because getting post scoring is important and also the in and out threes are the easiest and the most fun. I think getting it inside requires toughness and it requires guard skills to get it in. I thought we did a good job of that in this game.”

But showing its ACC pedigree, Pitt battled back and narrowed the gap to 33-20 by halftime. In the second half, the Panthers hung around, drawing to within 56-46 before falling 61-47.

Princeton head coach Courtney Banghart acknowledged that the fast start slowed into a bit of a slugfest.

“After that first burst, it was really a grind,” said Banghart. “They had nothing to lose and we were like anything that is not easy, oh we are not playing well. We got good looks but we didn’t shoot very well.

Banghart credited her veteran players with embracing the grind. “That was a really great experience for an experienced team to see, like wow, you guys came out strong but you were up against it the whole rest of the game,” said Banghart, who got 15 points and five rebounds from Wheatley in the win with senior Annie Tarakchian contributing 13 points and nine rebounds, senior guard Amanda Berntsen adding 19 points, and junior guard Vanessa Smith coming up with 11 points and nine rebounds.

“I think we won the toughness battle for sure. You kind of need these guys in the games that are like this, gritty and no rhythm to it against experienced kids.”

In Banghart’s view, Wheatley provided the necessary toughness to help the Tigers prevail.

“We are trying to get her to be a little more aggressive and find her niche inside,” said Banghart.

“Alex is a gentle kid but I think what sums it up is that she missed two straight free throws and then missed her third and I just said to her we need it. Alex will give you what you need. That game was a physical game and she didn’t shoot it as well as she usually does but she was what we need. She gets a lot of credit for that. I will take the tough Alex any day.”

Wheatley, for her part, is determined to be more of a physical presence for the Tigers down low.

“I am trying to be more aggressive on the offensive end and I am finding my niche in the post and really trying to anchor our offense from the paint,” said Wheatley, who was named the Ivy League Player of the Week on Monday afternoon and then went out that evening and scored 15 points with six rebounds to help Princeton defeat Fordham 55-44 and improve to 9-1.

“I think the guards are looking and having great passes and I am trying to finish. I think getting to the line is important for our team and I think that is easiest if I get the ball in the post and attack the rim.”

Ending the Pitt game with a lay-up after gathering in a long heave from Tarakchian gave Wheatley a rare easy bucket.

“It was awesome, that is one of my favorite plays,” said a grinning Wheatley, who is averaging 12.1 points and 5.2 rebounds a game this season. “Annie is an awesome thrower and I like to catch so it worked out.”

Banghart likes what she is seeing from her squad in its 9-1 start. “This was like an Ivy weekend, it was two games in three days; we scheduled them close together to have this opportunity,” said Banghart, whose team plays at Ohio State on December 18 and at Dayton on December 20.

“In the summer we knew this was going to be a really hard schedule, both in terms of how spaced out things with the games close together and in terms of the incredible talent level that we are playing against. I don’t think we have hit on all cylinders yet I am really happy. I am hard on these guys because they are still in the position of growing but they have come a long way. They should be happy.”