Looking around the Ivies: Preventing Princeton's five-peat in women's basketball

Led by two-time unanimous Ivy League Player of the Year Niveen Rasheed, Princeton took the last four Ivy League titles and lost just twice in conference play during that time. With Rasheed graduated, the Tigers go for a five-peat with a different look. Can anyone catch them?

The Defending Champions

Princeton: One would think that Princeton wouldn’t be at the same level with Rasheed and center Megan Bowen graduated. And that may be true. But coach Courtney Banghart returns a strong squad that is the preseason favorite to win the Ivy title once again. The team is led by senior forward Kristen Helmstetter, a second team All-Ivy selection, and junior guard Blake Dietrick, the team’s three-point specialist. Expect the Tigers to be a tough out for any team hoping to take away the title.

The Top Contenders

Penn: The Red and Blue just might be the top contenders for the Ivy crown. It is year five of the Mike McLaughlin era, and the Quakers have climbed up the Ivy standings each year since he was hired. Now McLaughlin returns all five starters — including first-team All-Ivy guard Alyssa Baron — as well as senior guard Meghan McCullough, who returns from a torn ACL. The key for this team just might be its new weapon in the post: freshman center Sydney Stipanovich.

Harvard: The Crimson ended Princeton’s 33-game Ivy winning streak last season as Harvard finished just two games behind the Tigers in the final standings. While the Crimson lose guard Victoria Lippert to graduation, the team will have two of the best scorers in the conference in senior guard Christine Clark and junior Temi Fagbenle. If Fagbenle can continue to impose her will in the post after winning Ivy Rookie of the Year last season, Harvard will be a force to be reckoned with in 2013-14.

Best of the Rest

Yale: While Princeton, Penn and Harvard can be considered the top tier of Ivy women’s hoops this season, Yale will be thorn in each of their sides. That’s because the Elis return 11 letterwinners from a year ago, including first team All-Ivy selection Sarah Halejian, a junior guard that has an all-around game similar to Penn’s Alyssa Baron. The Elis swept Penn a year ago and will be plenty capable of taking a game from anyone in the Ivies this winter.

The Other Half

Dartmouth: The Big Green began last season 4-1 in Ivy play but lost their last nine games. The team features a new coach in Belle Koclanes, who takes over a team that finished just 6-22 a year ago. Koclanes’ team in 2013-14 will likely go as far as senior guard Nicola Zimmer and junior forward Abbey Schmidt take them.

Cornell: With the graduation of senior forward Clare Fitzpatrick, expect the Big Red to be heavily reliant on senior forward Allyson DiMagno. DiMagno was second in the Ivies in rebounds and has a strong scoring presence in the post for a guard. However, the Big Red will probably sit near the bottom of the league.

Brown: The Bears will be looking at senior point guard Lauren Clarke to lead the team in 2013-14 after the graduation of guard Sheila Dixon. The second team All-Ivy selection will be a strength for a team without significant pop in the post. Brown will likely have to beat its opponents with its guard play.

Columbia: The Lions changed coaches after an abysmal season a year ago, in which the team lost 23 of its 28 games. The team doesn’t return a single player that averaged north of 10 points a game last year, so Columbia will have to hope that someone emerges as its go-to player amid a young roster.

SEE ALSO

How Alyssa Baron changed Penn women’s basketball

Tydings | Penn women’s basketball ready to challenge for Ivy supremacy

McCullough ready to ‘leave it all on the floor’ for Penn women’s basketball

All hands on deck for Penn women’s basketball with Keiera Ray out

Star-studded 2013-2014 slate awaits Penn women’s basketball

Clutch shots and Ivy wins: Penn women’s basketball 2012-13’s top moments

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