Women’s Basketball Secures Narrow 38-36 Victory Over Cornell in Final Moments

Saturday, March 1

Ithaca, N.Y.

3 p.m.

Brown University

11-15,5-8Ivy League

Cornell

7-19,3-10Ivy League

Brown

Cornell

Photo by: Brown Athletics

Women’s Basketball Secures Narrow 38-36 Victory Over Cornell in Final Moments

3/1/2025 7:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

ITHACA, N.Y. - The Brown women's basketball team (11-15, 5-8 Ivy) earned a necessary 38-36 win over the Cornell Big Red (7-19, 3-10 Ivy) on Saturday afternoon at Newman Arena.

"It's got to come down to finding a way and really trusting our group," Elizabeth F. Turner '98 Coaching Chair for Women's Basketball Monique LeBlanc said. "I thought they played tough and really gritty when it was tough to score."

Senior center Gianna Aiello posted her fourth career double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds. Aiello and junior guard Grace Arnolie both netted a game-high 15 points against the Big Red.

"She has really earned it in her career, and we trust her. She's aggressive, and she's an awesome teammate. She wants the ball, and wants to be able to do anything she can to help the team. I'm fired up for her for having a great game," LeBlanc said when asked to comment on Aiello's performance.

Aiello put Brown on the board first, and went on to net nine points from inside the paint in the first quarter. Arnolie hit a triple at the midway point of the first quarter extending the Bears' lead over the Big Red, 10-2. Cornell retaliated with a 9-0 run to close out the first quarter, taking the lead from Brown.

Cornell's Paige Engels opened up the second quarter with a layup to give the Big Red a five point edge over Brown. For the next three minutes, both teams held each other off from scoring. The silence was broken by a pair of free throws from Arnolie. Brown held Cornell to just four points in the second quarter. The Bears headed into the break with a two point advantage over the Big Red.

The Bears started the third quarter with a 5-0 run over Cornell, and went on to net five more points throughout the quarter. Brown played another defensive quarter, holding the Big Red to five points. The Bears headed into the final 10 with a seven-point lead.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, Cornell's Emily Pape hit a triple giving the Big Red the lead. Cornell then fouled three times, earning Brown free throws. Aiello made two of those free-throws, while sophomore guard Olivia Young netted one rounding the score out, 36-34. With one minute left on the clock, Pape made a pair of free throws knotting things up at 36.

Cornell's Azareya Kilgoe missed a pair of free throws, and a jump shot in an attempt to save the Big Red. Kilgoe fouled Arnolie with six seconds left in regulation. Arnolie made both free throws, pushing the Bears to 38 points. Brown's defense finished off the game making two stops before time expired, earning them their fifth conference win.

UP NEXT
The Bears will travel to New Haven, Conn. to take on the Yale Bulldogs on Mar. 8 for their final game of the regular season. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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