HANDS ON: Princeton University women’s basketball player Ellie Mitchell, right, guards a Penn player last season. Senior star Mitchell, the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023, is looking to diversify her offensive game as she heads into her final campaign for the Tigers. Princeton tips off its 2023-24 campaign by hosting Duquesne on November 6. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

In the last two years, the Princeton University women’s basketball team has come excruciatingly close to making the NCAA Sweet 16.

Last season, Princeton fell 63-56 at Utah in the second round of the NCAA tourney and it got edged 56-55 at Indiana at the same stage of the 2022 March Madness.

As the Tigers head into the 2023-24 campaign, Princeton senior forward Ellie Mitchell acknowledged that getting over that hump is a goal, even if it is on the back burner as the Tigers prepare to tip off their 2023-24 campaign by hosting Duquesne on November 6.

“Day to day, we focus on the little things, the little pieces that get us in that position,” said Mitchell, the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023, who averaged 5.8 points and 11.3 rebounds a game last winter as the Tigers went 24-6 overall and 12-2 Ivy League. “We know that once we earn it, we are excited. We are confident, we can break into that Sweet 16 this year. It is our year.”

Senior guard Kaitlyn Chen, the reigning Ivy Player of the Year,  concurs.

“It is in the back of your mind but it is not something you think about day-to-day,” said Chen, who averaged 16.2 points and 4.1 rebounds a game last winter.

On a day-to-day basis, the Tigers’ focus is squarely on defense.

“It starts with coach (Carla Berube), her thing has always been defense,” said Mitchell. “We have bought into that and that is a big part of our program, so every year we have to reemphasize it and teach everyone and remind them that is the standard. That is what Princeton basketball is and it is how we are going to win games.”

Mitchell has been taking a role in passing on the program’s defensive principles to the squad’s younger players.

“It is just like new concepts; things are more in depth, things are faster,” said Mitchell. “You have to think a little more, especially on defense. We are trying to teach them that and it is coming along each day.”

Chen has been part of that effort as well. “I feel like it is something the more you play, it becomes second nature to you,” said Chen. “We know what to do, and we are able to explain that to the newcomers. We are able to be that second coach to them.”

The newcomers have been responding to that coaching. “It is a big learning curve, everyone is doing great, working really hard,” said Mitchell. “It is coming together, so we are excited. We see a little bit more click into place. They are starting to get it more on their own. We have a lot of returners to talk them through it and help them with that. It has been fun.”

It has been fun for Chen to develop a greater self-belief over her Tiger career.

“I think I have just become more confident throughout my years here,” said Chen. “My fellow teammates and coaches constantly lift me and tell me that I can do it. They have all of their trust in me and I have all of my trust in them. This year I am looking to expand my range.”

Mitchell, for her part, is looking to expand her game offensively.

“I am trying to play a little bit bigger this year so that might put me more at the four (power forward),” said Mitchell. “I am always trying to be a little more offensive, get a little mid-range game, and be able to attack the basket to get gaps so people just don’t camp in the lane.”

Princeton head coach Berube likes the way her players have attacked the preseason.

“Things are good, things are moving along; we have a lot of newcomers, a lot of new faces,” said Berube. “There are six freshmen and Tabby [Amanze], who didn’t play last year and is back now. It is seven players we didn’t have last year. We are doing a lot of teaching, teaching defense, watching film, breaking things down. We have had to start at the foundation which is good.”

Defense is at the foundation of the success of the Tigers under Berube.

“What we do defensively is not rocket science,”
said Berube.

“We do have our principles, we call them Tiger principles. You have got to learn them. One of them is communication which is sometimes really hard for freshmen. It is use their voices and speak up. If you don’t have all five talking on the court, you are in trouble. They are coming along, they are certainly working hard at it.”

Sophomore guard Madison St. Rose, the 2023 Ivy Rookie of the Year, is coming along well as she gets ready for her second college campaign.

“Maddie has already made a big jump, just in practice; I think she didn’t like the way her year ended last year in the NCAA tournament,” said Berube of St. Rose, who averaged 8.8 points and 2.8 rebounds a game last winter. “She put in a lot of time this summer on the quickness of her release, her range, and finishing going both ways. She is a very dominant lefty but she has some great finishes going right around the hoop. She was here lifting and working with the trainer. She has gotten stronger as well, she has worked really, really hard. She is a great leader for the newcomers. She was just there last year as a freshman during that fall semester who didn’t really know exactly how things went and then made a big jump once the Ivy League season came upon us. She can put herself in their shoes and help them along.”

Mitchell has emerged as a strong leader and player for the Tigers.

“I feel like Ellie has been here forever, she has been here since I got here,” said Berube. “She knows the standard, she has become a great vocal leader. She shows it every day in practice and in games what is expected. She has been a great leader off the court too taking the underclassmen under her wing. Where we want Ellie to take a next step is offensively. She has a nice mid-range jumper and I think she will be able to make those in games this year.”

Berube is expecting Chen to live up to her high standards in her final campaign at Princeton.

“As far as Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn is Kaitlyn,” said Berube. “She is the Ivy Player of the Year, hopefully it will be more of the same. She worked really hard on her game as well, focusing on threes. Last year she was taking a lot of long twos because her foot was on the line. She has gotten stronger and has a deeper range on her shot. She has had a great preseason so far.”

The addition of Amanze could be the X factor for the Tigers.

“Tabby is still trying to get back into the best shape that she possibly can,” said Berube.

“It is a work in progress but she works very, very hard. She is 6’4 and athletic and can score at the rim. She seals well inside, she gives us a shot blocker in there. She is a mid-range shooter as well. It is something we haven’t had in a while, just that presence inside. I am excited for her.”

Highly-touted guard/forward Fadima Tall figures to lead an exciting freshman group.

“Fadima is great, she is a great scorer and is really talented,” said Berube. “We are learning the defense right now as most of the freshmen are. She is bringing a great work ethic every day, sitting in and watching film where she can get better. I think all of our freshmen have that. They are all very talented. We are excited to see who is going to step up into some big shoes.”

The Tigers boast returning talent all over the court. “I think Parker Hill (2.7 points, 1.6 rebounds in 2022-23) has come along as well as has Paige Morton (3.6 points, 1.6 rebounds); Ellie has to be able to play the four for those bigs to play the five (center),” said Berube.

“I am excited about the frontcourt. I think the backcourt will be different. We have Kaitlyn and Maddie but it is a lot of players you haven’t seen first years. Chet Nweke (3.1 points, 2.8 rebounds) had some really big minutes last year for us, she is stepping up as well. I think Amelia Osgood (1.8 points, 1.2 rebounds) is going to step up and play some meaningful minutes as well.”

In Berube’s view, the ultimate goal of making the Sweet 16 is reasonable for these Tigers.

“We have a lot of work to do; I think we have the talent, we have the leadership and the drive,” said Berube. “I think especially our seniors, they have got a chip on their shoulder. They are hungry for more. We keep knocking on the door of that Sweet 16.
You can’t be thinking about that right now. You have to be thinking about today’s practice and our first game with Duquesne. We will take it from there. I am excited about this group and this season.”

Mitchell, for her part, believes that this group can add to the program’s winning tradition as long as the players stay focused on a daily basis.

“We aren’t quick to forget how we started out Ivy League season last year 0-2, that was a big reality check,” said Mitchell. “We are Princeton basketball, but you can’t take that for granted. The name doesn’t do anything on its own. We have to work for that. Our banners show us what we can achieve, it is a good reminder of what we want to get to. This is what we are working for day in, day out.”