PRINCETON, N.J. (Interstat) — In a game that lived up to the intensity of the Ivy League women’s basketball rivalry, the Princeton Tigers remained perfect in conference play by outlasting the Harvard Crimson 82-79 in overtime on Monday afternoon at a raucous Jadwin Gymnasium.

The contest, witnessed by 1,857 fans, was a back-and-forth affair that required an extra five minutes to decide after Harvard’s Katie Krupa sank a clutch three-pointer with five seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score at 64-64. Princeton’s Ashley Chea had given the Tigers a three-point lead just moments earlier with a deep three of her own, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.

The overtime period belonged to Princeton’s precision and composure. The Tigers scored on their first four possessions, with Madison St. Rose and Skye Belker hitting critical shots to build a lead Harvard could not overcome. The Crimson, led by a heroic individual effort, fought until the final buzzer but ultimately fell short.

Harvard’s Karlee White, a junior guard from Burbank, California, delivered a career-defining performance, pouring in 27 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 41 minutes. Her driving layup with 15 seconds left in overtime brought Harvard within a single point, but Princeton sealed the game at the free-throw line. White’s backcourt mate, Saniyah Glenn of Staten Island, New York, added 16 points, including a crucial three-pointer late in regulation.

Princeton’s victory was a testament to its balance and defensive pressure. The Tigers forced 16 Harvard turnovers, converting them into 16 points, and dished out 13 assists to Harvard’s six. While Harvard’s White was the game’s leading scorer, Princeton countered with multiple weapons.

Ashley Chea, a sophomore guard from Montebello, California, led the Tigers with 19 points, continuing her strong recent play. Madison St. Rose, from Old Bridge, New Jersey, also scored 19, providing a steadying presence throughout. Fadima Tall of Silver Spring, Maryland, was a force inside, narrowly missing a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds while anchoring Princeton’s defense.

The game’s pivotal sequence came in the final 90 seconds of overtime. With Princeton leading 75-73, Harvard had two possessions to tie or take the lead but came up empty. On the ensuing trip, Tall was fouled and calmly sank two free throws to extend the lead to four with 19 seconds left, a margin that proved insurmountable.

Harvard started strong, leading 11-9 after a low-scoring first quarter and taking a 25-25 tie into halftime. The third quarter saw both offenses ignite, with Princeton taking a slim 49-48 lead into the final frame. The fourth quarter featured six lead changes and four ties before Krupa’s game-tying three forced overtime.

Statistically, the game was remarkably even. Princeton shot 46.7% from the field to Harvard’s 44.6%. Harvard held a slight edge from three-point range, hitting 9 of 20, while Princeton was 7 of 17. The difference came at the foul line, where Princeton made 19 of 23 attempts compared to Harvard’s 12 of 14. Princeton also held a significant advantage in assists, 13-6, and steals, 13-6.

With the win, Princeton improved to 16-1 overall and 3-0 in Ivy League play, solidifying its position at the top of the conference. Harvard fell to 9-8 overall and 1-2 in the league. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Feb. 28 in the regular-season finale for both.

Princeton next travels to face Brown on Saturday, while Harvard visits Cornell on the same day.