The Dartmouth
February 29, 2009
The Dartmouth men’s and women’s basketball teams toward the end of their respective campaigns with high spirits and high expectations. The men’s squad tips off for the final two times this season at Leede Arena, while the women’s squad prepares for its last roadtrip doubleheader this weekend.
Both teams seek not only the Ivy crown, but also the chance to play in the NCAA postseason tournament next month.
The men’s squad, coming off tough losses to Columbia and Cornell two weeks ago, looked last weekend to recapture both its momentum and the top spots in Ivy standings.
Alex Barnett ‘09 and David Rufful ‘12 helped keep the team’s title hopes alive, as both players delivered big in crucial wins over the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton. The doubleheader victories marked the first Dartmouth sweep of the Quakers and the Tigers in 50 years.
Earning the league’s weekly basketball awards, Barnett and Rufful combined for 65 total points in the team’s last two matchups. Barnett moved to 10th place on Dartmouth’s all-time scoring leaderboard, while Rufful scored in double figures for the fifth straight game.
This week, the Big Green will look for equally strong performances from the senior-freshman duo, as well as consistent support from the bench. With the title on the line, the Big Green will host defending Ivy champion Cornell, as well as Columbia, with which the Big Green is currently tied for second place, hoping to avenge losses to both teams earlier in the season.
Dartmouth, however, will have to face off against tough perimeter defense from both teams. In the teams’ previous meetings this year, the Big Red limited Dartmouth to only 23 points in the first half, while the Lions suffocated the Big Green offense throughout the game, holding the visitors to 52 points.
The men’s squad is also looking to contain opponents’ open looks from beyond the arc and ball movement into the paint. Alhough the Dartmouth defense has been solid during the last two games, the Tigers and the Big Red have combined to score 146 points against the Big Green this season.
The men will host Cornell and Columbia on Friday and Saturday at Leede Arena, while the women will square off against the Big Red and the Lions on the road. All games are set for 7 p.m. tipoffs.
Big Green athletics will also host its “Bleed Green Weekend” for the upcoming home games. Dartmouth students are encouraged to wear green to all athletic events.
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