On Friday’s episode of Locked On Women’s Basketball, The Next’s managing editor and Ivy League beat reporter Jenn Hatfield joins host Natalie Heavren to talk about which teams have already clinched their spots and the battle for the final spot in the Ivy League Tournament. The pair also chat about the conference’s impactful seniors as well as what to watch for in the final weekend of the regular season.
“Becoming Caitlin Clark” is out now!
Howard Megdal’s newest book is here! “Becoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar” captures both the historic nature of Clark’s rise and the critical context over the previous century that helped make it possible, including interviews with Clark, Lisa Bluder (who also wrote the foreword), C. Vivian Stringer, Jan Jensen, Molly Kazmer and many others.
As Jenn explains, Columbia, Princeton and Harvard have secured the top three spots in next week’s conference tournament. Columbia, led by seniors Kitty Henderson, Cecelia Collins, and sophomore Riley Weiss, clinched the number one seed despite losing top player Abbey Hsu. Princeton, with a young team, improved defensively and offensively, while Harvard, despite losing key players, maintained a strong net ranking. The race for the fourth seed is between Penn and Brown, with Penn needing a win over Princeton to secure the spot.
Later in the episode, Natalie and Jenn analyze several players emerging as key difference makers for their teams. For Columbia, forward Susie Rafiu stands out, particularly after her strong performance in their win over Princeton. Rafiu, who is tasked with guarding larger players like Princeton’s 6’4 Parker Hill, adds a crucial dimension to Columbia’s relatively small front court. “The better she can be, that kind of raises their ceiling,” Jenn says on the podcast.
Princeton’s size also plays a pivotal role, with players like Hill and 6’4 Tabitha Amanze giving the team a consistent height advantage. Head coach Carla Berube emphasized the need to utilize this strength, especially after their loss to Columbia. For Harvard, Saniya Glenn-Bello‘s athleticism and versatility are vital, particularly in their press defense, which ranks among the best in the nation. Her emergence as a third scorer behind the duo of Harmoni Turner and Elena Rodriguez has been crucial for Harvard’s success, especially against teams like Columbia.
The Ivy League conference tournament tips off Friday, March 14, from The Pizzitola Sports Center in Providence, Rhode Island.