It’s time for another episode of the Locked on Women’s Basketball podcast. In this episode, host and Atlantic 10 beat writer Natalie Heavren is joined by The Next’s managing editor, Ivy League beat writer and Mystics beat writer Jenn Hatfield to talk all things Ivy League so far this season. The duo discusses Columbia’s hot start this season, including whether the Lions are now the best team in the conference.
Jenn on which players have stood out to her most so far this season:
I have to shout out [Columbia guard] Abbey Hsu, who if the season ended today would be my fairly easy pick for Ivy League Player of the Year. She is their leading scorer; she is a sharpshooter, which I think is an understatement. She set the Columbia record for made 3-pointers in her sophomore season, which is the most insane record to me. She’s a junior now and has one more year of eligibility at Columbia [after this season]. She’s just really fun to watch.
Jenn on what she learned from Princeton’s near-upset of UConn on the road back on Dec. 8:
I think that showing they could come back from [a 15-point deficit], especially with a press that they don’t normally use, that was impressive, even though UConn was shorthanded. You look at all the injuries to UConn and say, “Oh man, Princeton had an opportunity there.” But I think the fight that they showed and the comeback they put on gave me more confidence that the Columbia-Princeton games are going to be really good, and both teams could take that series.
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