Out of all the NCAA Women’s Basketball conferences, the power 4 has the most teams bid to play in the March Madness that limits opportunities for other conferences.
One conference that is overlooked by the committee and has the most pressure of making the NCAA tournament is the Ivy League. The league is made up of eight teams where only the smartest attend and great athletic programs that allows students to play four years. In the past NCAA tournaments, the Ivy League is able to bid one team to represent even though others have decent records.
This season, the league has the best chances of producing three teams in the NCAA tournament for the first time in conference history. Harvard, Princeton and Columbia remain as the top three teams in league for the last five years and have shown that they can compete against the best.
Harvard is off to their best start for first time in a while. The Crimson leads the NCAA in points allowed from changing their defense schemes last year. The team has played excellent against programs in high profile conferences that helps build their resume for the tournament.
Their biggest win so far this season was upsetting then ranked Indiana Hoosiers in overtime on the road which is the first ranked win in 27 years. Harvard is led by senior guard Harmoni Turner who is a phenomenal shooter and defensive minded player. She leads the conference in points and steals per game.
“The Crimson 20-4 (9-3) could possibly extend their season in March with two games remaining and making a run to the finals of Ivy League Madness that will give them a secure bid. Defense is the team’s identity for success and the main reason why they are a top team in the league.”
Columbia is the underdog of the Ivy League. Led by Coach Griffith, the Lions do not get enough attention in the conference but put on a challenging schedule to prepare for March. Columbia is guard-oriented where three-point shooting and floor spacing is part of the team’s identity.
Last season, the Lions were lucky to make the NCAA tournament after falling in the championship game of the conference tournament at home. Griffith felt her team was being snubbed of making the tournament in the last five seasons and participate in the WNIT where teams who do not receive a bid play in this tournament.
Columbia is more motivated to make the tournament again this season and trying to move on from the two rounds of Madness to continue playing. The Lions currently sit first in the standings at 11-1 going into the conference tournament. They lead the Ivy League in points and rebounds per game.
“Columbia deserves more appearances in the NCAA tournament for all the hard work to prepare for March that ends getting taken away from the committee not recognizing. The Lions are sitting at a good spot and all they need to do is finish league play strong along with a conference tournament title.”
Princeton was always first in the league and has made consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. Since Harvard and Columbia improved their programs, the Tigers have faced competition to win out the conference. Princeton is one of the most experience groups in the conference that makes others struggle to beat.
Coach Berube, UConn women’s basketball alum, prepares the Tigers to play a difficult schedule every season since taking over the program in 2019. Princeton will face any team that has tournament experience, in the rankings or unstoppable in their conference. The Tigers resume against these teams helps them make the tournament.
Princeton’s consecutive runs to March is on the line as the Tigers are in a battle with Harvard and Columbia to win the conference tournament. The Tigers are going through a development year after losing top three scorers from graduation and trying to fill in the production. They also lost their current leading scorer junior guard Madison St. Rose to an ACL injury and have to rely on sophomore guards Sky Belker and Ashley Chea to lead the team.
“Princeton has a standard of playing good basketball against top talent and a streak of playing in March may come down to the conference tournament championship. The Tigers need to win the tournament if they want to play in the Madness with Harvard and Columbia also trying to make it to the end.”
