While politicians in Washington blame each other for the government shutdown, the Princeton women’s basketball team refused to let flight delays likely caused by the shutdown spoil their season opener against Georgia Tech on Sunday afternoon.
Despite a 12-hour flight delay that resulted in a 3 a.m. arrival at the team hotel last night, the Tigers rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat the Yellow Jackets, 67-61, at McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta.
The game was a triumphant homecoming for junior Olivia Hutcherson, a native of Johns Creek, Ga., who told the ACC Extra announcers before the game, “I have all of Johns Creek here.” The defensive star didn’t disappoint her fan base, tallying a career-high 15 points and grabbing six rebounds.
Hutcherson also played her usual lockdown defense, helping the Tigers claw 26 turnovers from Georgia Tech, including 10 in the fourth quarter.
“Olivia was amazing,” coach Carla Berube told Ivy Hoops Online. “What she was able to do on both ends kept us in the game in the first half when our shots weren’t falling.”