This was the Bulldogs’ first away win against the Quakers in 22 years, and they achieved it in quadruple overtime. 

“Rely on our training. We know what to do. Keep pushing,” Jenna Collignon ’25 said about the team’s attitude in her post-game interview. Collignon embodied this determination on Saturday as the player to score the Bulldog’s OT game winner. 

This is a team that never gives up — and that’s exactly what they proved to the Quakers on Saturday. 

The beginning of the game started slow for the Bulldogs, with no Eli’s putting up a point in the first quarter. The Quakers, however, put up three of their own, leaving the score 3-0. 

The second quarter came with a little more activity from the Bulldogs, with Fallon Vaughn ’25 scoring their first goal four minutes in. The Quakers then scored two goals back to back, stretching their lead. However, Ashley Newman ’26 ended the quarter with a goal of her own, slightly shrinking the Bulldogs’ deficit. 

This left the Bulldogs at a shaky four-goal deficit going into the second half 6-2. 

Four goals from the Bulldogs marked the third quarter as they attempted to close the gap. However, the Quakers put up two of their own over the 15 minutes. Frustratingly for the Bulldogs, they were still down after a stellar quarter, entering the final minutes of regulation 8-6.

The fourth quarter is where the Bulldogs finally came out to bark. 

Yale started the quarter with two goals from Newman and Sky Carrasquillo ’25 to tie the teams at 8-8. 

With just under seven minutes to go, the Quakers returned with a goal, which the Bulldogs matched only 90 seconds later. Caroline Burt ’25 came up huge for the team, putting up her first point of the game to tie the teams again at 9-9 to close out regulation. 

In overtime, both teams battled with everything they had left in the tank. With twelve seconds left in the fourth period of overtime, Collignon did what she does best. 

Choosing to put pressure on the goalie, Collignon was able to block the clear with her stick and scoop up the ball. Fighting through a double team, she managed to get her stick free and bury the ball in the back of the cage. 

“We know how to handle things under pressure,” Collignon stated. After a stellar high-stakes performance in the NCAA tournament last year, making it to the final four, the Bulldogs know how to operate under pressure. 

They made that clear today with several players making an impact late in the game to land the Bulldogs on top, securing their third Ivy League win 10-9.

Next week, the Bulldogs will face the Harvard Crimson in Cambridge on Saturday at 12 p.m.

The post WOMEN’S LACROSSE: Bulldogs down Quakers in quadruple OT appeared first on Yale Daily News.

Schwartz was a member of the women’s ice hockey team and was loved by many in the Yale community. During her junior year, she was diagnosed with leukemia, and the search for a blood stem cell transplant began immediately. 

“It’s such an easy process for such a great cause,” Phoenix Grant ’27, a member of the football team, told the News.

With the help of several members of Yale faculty, the women’s ice hockey team, and the football team, the drive began that spring and has continued ever since.

Tragically, Schwartz never found a perfect match. 

Her story, however, touched many members of the Yale community and encouraged people to continue fighting leukemia in her honor. 

“Those of us who knew Mandi and knew what her struggle was like when she was looking for a match and could not find a donor, we would never want another cancer patient or their family to go through something like that,” Sam Rubin, media coordinator at Yale and board member of the Mandi Schwartz Foundation, told the News. 

So far, the Yale registry has added nearly 10,000 potential donors to the National Marrow Donor Program. 

The ultimate goal of this effort is to create a registry with enough depth that any patient that is ever looking for a genetic match can find one. 

The best part of this drive is how simple it is to join the program. This message was reiterated by all the student-athletes who the News interviewed. 

“The biggest thing that needs to be clarified is the process,” Maddy Zavalick ’26 told the News. 

Many people take one look at the drive and believe that they have to donate blood to join, when that is not the case. Instead, all a candidate has to do is scan a QR code, sign up online, and swab their cheek. That swab is given to a drive representative and sent off to be added to the registry. 

“It maybe takes three minutes,” Zavalick added. 

Once they’ve joined the program, candidates will be evaluated for leukemia patients who require a blood transfusion.

If a potential match is discovered, the candidate will be called for additional testing to learn if they could save a life. 

“Right now, Yale is leading in the nation with 102 lives saved total,” Grant proudly told the News. “It’s awesome that we have a coach that has been a part of this and has saved a life.” 

Paul Rice ’09, who captained the football team in 2009 and now is a part of Coach Reno’s staff, was called up to donate in 2013 and continues to tell the team about it yearly. 

Schwartz’s cause is infectious. This year the field hockey team was so moved by her mission, that instead of only having two to three representatives on the committee, the entire team decided to join in the hopes of making the most significant impact possible. 

Along with field hockey and women’s ice hockey, football has been one of the most prominent advocates for this drive since its inception.

“My dad’s best friend died of leukemia, and my middle name is his name,” Robby Tattersall ’27, one of the football players leading this year’s drive, shared with the News. 

Cancer has touched so many lives of students at Yale and has encouraged so many to give back. Yale is at the forefront of the drive, given the university’s connection to Schwartz, and this is something the committee is incredibly proud of. 

This year, the committee is hoping to get anywhere from 600 to 1000 sign-ups from primarily first-year students, as once you join the program, you cannot register again. 

The committee aims to uphold this standard of effort and participation every single year as an example for other schools to learn about how vital this drive can be to someone. 

“Save a life,” Zavalick concluded in her interview.

This year’s drive will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Beinecke Plaza and Steep Cafe on April 15. Anyone who cannot attend the drive in person at Yale can go to the NMDP website and register or text “YaleSaves” to 61474.

The post Save a life: Yale to host 17th annual Mandi Schwartz Drive appeared first on Yale Daily News.

Yale was coming off of a huge upset against Syracuse earlier this week, taking down the No. 6 team in the nation 13-10. The team made sure to take this momentum with them into Sunday’s game. 

“I’m incredibly proud of our team this week,” Fallon Vaughn ’25 told the News. “We had two tough games, and we came out on top in both. Dartmouth really pushed us to earn every goal, but our defense, along with our freshman goalie, stepped up big and made some key plays when we needed them most.”

Jenna Collignon ’25 scored the game’s first goal just five minutes into the first quarter. From there, Dartmouth and Yale went back and forth on the scoreboard, ending the first quarter 2-2. This was a game that came down to who could retain possession and convert on their opportunities, however, both teams were slow to start as they adjusted to their opponent. 

The second quarter was a different story. 

The Bulldogs scored double the amount of points as the Big Green, letting their offense shine. Taylor Lane ’25 put up two goals, while Vaughn and Sky Carrasquillo ’25 each tacked on another, finishing the first half with a two-goal lead, 6-4. 

One area that looked shakier than usual for the Bulldogs was their ability to secure draw controls. The Big Green ended the game with 16 while Yale trailed by 10, winning only 6. This was an aspect of the game the Bulldogs were prepared to deal with coming into the matchup, as the Big Green has shown their tenacity and precision on the draw circle all season long. 

The Bulldogs were able to stay hungry, however, and managed to win several turnovers, giving themselves some opportunities outside of the midfield. 

Going into the second half, both teams had a bit of a flat start. Dartmouth got their only goal with just over five minutes left in the third quarter. 

A few minutes later, Yale answered back, managing to hold their two-goal lead going into the fourth quarter. Vaughn did what she does best and made sure to take advantage of a free position on the center hash before time ran out.

Both teams were eager to put up some more points in the fourth quarter after only scoring one goal each in the third. Within the first few minutes, the Bulldogs were getting active inside the 12 meter. 

Lane came in hot, creating space for herself and ripping a shot to the top corner, putting the Bulldogs up by three. This was Lane’s third goal of the game, keeping up her stellar performance this season.

Soon after, Vaughn showed the Big Green that they could not contain her. After being double-teamed and fouled, Vaughn still found a way to get a shot off to extend the Bulldogs lead 9-5, the largest lead Yale had had up to that point. 

From there, the Bulldogs ran away with it. Vaughn put up her fourth goal of the day and in the last three minutes, Collignon put up her third. In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs put up five goals total, with Dartmouth putting up only one.

The final score landed at 12–6, a decisive win for the Bulldogs. 

The depth of the team has been incredible so far, from the dominant senior class to the standout first-year goalkeeper, Niamh Pfaff ’28 who filled in for usual goalie Cami Donadio ’25. This week has been a key moment in the Bulldogs’ season, as they were able to dig themselves out of a three-game losing streak and come out on top against two incredibly competitive teams.

Next weekend, Yale is heading down to Philadelphia to face their fifth Ivy League opponent of the season, the University of Pennsylvania Quakers. The game will be played on Saturday, April 12 and will start at 12 p.m.

The post WOMEN’S LACROSSE: Bulldogs take down the Big Green appeared first on Yale Daily News.

Despite ongoing funding challenges, the team had their heart set on qualifying for nationals, submitting a video demonstrating their skills to the competition’s judges, and ultimately receiving a bid to participate. 

The team’s video highlighted their stunting, tumbling, pyramids and basket tosses.

“Meeting all the technical requirements with limited resources was not easy.” Yale cheerleader Gaby Lord ’27 wrote to the News. “The Athletics Department only provides us with three practice panels (while a full cheer floor, like the one we will be competing on [at nationals], is nine), so we’ve had to creatively use the wrestling mats to simulate a full mat.”

Colleen Murphy, the director of communications for Yale Athletics, confirmed to the News that three practice mats are available for the cheer team.

According to team members, funding has been an ongoing issue for Yale’s cheer squad, as they are not registered as a varsity Yale team and, therefore, are often overlooked by the department. However, this year, the team was determined to prove they deserved the time and effort the University dedicates to other teams, said Lord. 

In the absence of funding from Yale Athletics, the team’s bid to nationals has been primarily supported through donations to the cheer program from family and friends, Grace Dossou ’25 told the News. 

“As Yale Athletics grows — with football becoming NCAA playoff eligible next fall and men’s basketball making back-to-back March Madness appearances — we believe spirit programs deserve to grow and compete alongside them,” Lord wrote to the News. 

The presence of Yale’s athletics has grown exponentially these past few years — the Bulldogs’ football and men’s basketball performances have started to turn heads nationally. Members of Yale Cheer told the News they believe it is time for them to receive the adequate funding and recognition they need to support Yale’s sports teams to the best of their ability.

By performing at the NCA Championships, the team is ready to prove just that on the mat, and they’ve been diligently preparing for the opportunity. 

“This team’s willingness and ability to keep pushing through whatever comes our way is something that has taken us up until this point in the season, and what I’m confident will carry us through the competition,” Nathania Nartey ’25 told the News. 

College cheerleading has made significant waves across the country in recent years. Netflix’s show “Cheer,” which premiered in 2020, shook up the nation’s knowledge and recognition of cheerleading, earning three Emmy Awards. The docuseries and the rise of social media stars such as cheerleader Gabi Butler, who boasts over 2 million followers on Instagram, continue to raise awareness and grow the fanbase of collegiate and professional cheerleading. 

While other universities provide significant resources for their cheer teams — access to varsity weight rooms, athletic medicine resources, and free travel for games and competitions — the Bulldogs are coming in as true underdogs without these perks.

“Jumping straight into NCA College Nationals (the largest and most competitive stage in college cheerleading) feels like diving headfirst into the deep end,” Lord wrote to the News when asked about how the team felt going into the competition. 

The Elis will take the mat in the Spirit Rally division, competing against other Division I university squads.

“For the first time, we’re able to represent our school at our own competition, not just on the sidelines for another sport — and I think that’s such a meaningful and rewarding way to honor our commitment to what it has meant to be a cheerleader,” Aileen Santiago ’28 told the News. 

The Yale Cheer team will compete at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida on April 10 at 8:34 a.m.

The post Despite funding challenges, Cheer team heads to NCA College Nationals for the first time in program history appeared first on Yale Daily News.

The last time these two teams faced each other was late last spring in the NCAA tournament, where Syracuse won by a 10-goal difference 19–9. Yesterday, however, was a different story.

Coming off of a three-game losing streak, the Bulldogs were hungry for a win to get them back on track. 

“This was definitely the perfect spark,” Sophie Straka ’25 told the News. “I’m really proud of everyone. It’s been a tough few weeks. Not many teams could have pulled off a win like this. Everyone stayed resilient.”

In addition to their determination, the Bulldogs found out that one of Syracuse’s best attackers, Olivia Adamson, had recently been sidelined for the rest of the season. These two facts gave the Bulldogs some much needed confidence coming into this competition. 

Yale came out strong in the first quarter, putting up two goals in the first two minutes. This is a team known for their tenacity and that was exactly what was on display yesterday. 

Syracuse didn’t score their first goal until 5 minutes into the game, which was quickly followed by another goal from Yale’s sharp shooter Fallon Vaughn ’25. 

At the end of the first quarter, the game was tied up 4–4, as Syracuse regained their footing. The second quarter stayed close for the first five minutes until Yale put up two more points, coming from Vaughn and Taylor Lane ’25 making the score 5–7.

Vaughn was on fire today, scoring her fourth goal of the day early in the third quarter, bringing the score to 8–5. However, the Orange received a second wind in the third quarter putting up two more after Vaughn. 

Going into the fourth quarter at 8–7, the Bulldogs needed to widen the gap between them and Syracuse. None other than Tewaaraton watch list’s Jenna Collignon ’25 took on this job. Collignon put up two goals in the first two minutes, making a statement as both teams entered the last fifteen minutes of play.

From there, both Yale and Syracuse scored three goals each before the final buzzer rang. However, Jenna had widened that gap too far for the Orange to make a significant comeback and the Bulldogs ended on top 13–10. 

This was an incredible show of talent, sharp shooting, and endurance, as the Bulldogs pushed themselves all the way until the end of this game. 

“This game was really a full team win. There were times when the defense had to stand on its head, but we were really locked in and prepared. Our goalies were amazing,” Straka told the News. 

The Bulldogs needed a well earned win against a top ten opponent to remind them of how dangerous they are and the potential they have to make it far in the NCAA tournament for a second year in a row. 

This Sunday, the Bulldogs will take on their third Ivy League opponent of the season, the Dartmouth Big Green, in Reese Stadium at 12pm.

The post WOMEN’S LACROSSE: Bulldogs down No. 6 Syracuse 13–10 at home appeared first on Yale Daily News.

The Bulldogs were coming off of a two game losing streak after an impressive start to their season where they dominated for seven straight games. 

In those two losses at the end of spring break, the Bulldogs were having trouble finding the net when shooting. The team was able to get off several shots, but for the first time this season, they were not landing in the cage. 

This was the same issue the Bulldogs had this Saturday against the Tigers. Stand out players including Sky Carrasquillo ’25, Jenna Collignon ’25 and Taylor Lane ’25 played fiercely, however it took them a little while to put up some points on the board. 

The momentum started with Princeton, as Yale scored their first goal 8 minutes into the first quarter. This game stayed incredibly tight all the way through, with both teams battling for an Ivy League win. 

The Tigers and the Bulldogs were all tied up 6–6 at the nine minute mark in the third quarter, and from there Princeton went on a three goal run making the score 9–6. However, the Bulldogs never gave up and in the second half of the fourth quarter Collignon tied the score once again at 10–10. Unfortunately from there Princeton went on another three goal run, shutting the door on their opponent. 

Throughout the game Yale worked to give their players one on one opportunities within the 25 yard line, but the Princeton defense stayed tight, making it difficult for Yale to get their shots off with precision. 

Collignon was the only outlier, putting up five goals for the Bulldogs. Her ability to get around her defender and get her hands free make her an incredibly dangerous player that Princeton could not contain, despite their defensive success. 

Yale played fiercely throughout this entire game, their hustle on display up until the final buzzer sounded. This team is known for their athleticism and their sharp shooting ability, but the latter just wasn’t present on Saturday.

On Wednesday, the Bulldogs will take on No. 7 Syracuse at home at 1pm. 

The post WOMEN’S LACROSSE: Bulldogs fall to Princeton Tigers 13–11 appeared first on Yale Daily News.

With Columbia sitting at eighth in the Ivy League and Yale currently at third, the Bulldogs confidently entered this match-up and came out on top.

Yale was ahead from the start, putting up six goals before Columbia scored their first. The Bulldogs carried this lead until the end, never letting the Lions come close to overtaking them. 

The Bulldogs’ next game against UConn saw a similar match up, with the Huskies currently ranked 21 spots lower than the Bulldogs in the NCAA Division I rankings. The Bulldogs could keep their composure and come out with a solid win, putting up the same number of points as they had the weekend prior. 

The spotlight for the Bulldogs landed on Jenna Collignon ’25, who walked away with six goals and Fallon Vaughn ’25, who scored four. These two names should be no surprise as they have been instrumental players since joining the team. These two players consistently score high stats and prove their relentless ambition each time they step on the field. 

Things started to get tricky for the Bulldogs when they took on Stanford across the country in California. Yale came into this game ranked No. 4 in the country, significantly higher than their opponent; however, they just couldn’t clinch the win. 

The team got off many shots, but they just weren’t landing. Stanford’s goalkeeper, Lucy Pierson, achieved her career high saves at 15, showing that Yale wasn’t making those shots precise enough on such a sharp keeper. 

Yale’s team is known for their skilled attackmen and determination around the cage, but the Bulldogs were trailing and couldn’t win back the lead in those final moments. 

Stanford won this game through their defense, a wall that was just strong enough to hold off Yale until that final buzzer rang. The Bulldogs fell 10-11 in an incredibly close game. This loss resulted in the team dropping out of the top five to No. 7. 

The last game the Bulldogs played over break was against Brown. Coming off a close loss like that is always tricky, and the team couldn’t convert against the Bears. 

Yale led the game 6-4 in the first quarter, but by halftime, the game was tied 8-8. In the second half, the Bears kept their momentum and led the Bulldogs 11-10 in the 3rd. Brown kept their composure and widened that gap to 14-11 by the time the clock ran out. 

This loss dropped Yale down to No. 10 and allowed Brown to move into the national rankings for the first time this season at No. 21. 

Although this was a rough way for the Bulldogs to come out of break, the team had a stellar start to the season and showed us all their capabilities. Yale just needs to get back to landing those shots in the back of the net as consistently as we know they can, and the team will be right back where they belong in the top five. 

This Saturday, the Bulldogs will face the Princeton Tigers at home at 12 p.m. Yale is currently ranked No. 3 in the Ivy League, and Princeton is ranked No. 1.

The post WOMEN’S LACROSSE: Bulldogs split games 2–2 over spring break, breaking their five-game winning streak appeared first on Yale Daily News.

The physical, swarming defense from A&M gave the Bulldogs issues all night long while big man Pharrel Payne terrorized Yale on the offensive end, finishing with 25 points and 10 rebounds in a dominant performance.

“I thought they [Texas A&M] played a great game,” head coach James Jones said after the game. “Really good group of young men… In terms of our team, I couldn’t be prouder of our effort today. It wasn’t our best performance. For us to be successful in a game at this level, a lot of things have to go right. We have to make our free throws. We have to take better care of the ball. We didn’t do those things tonight.”

Star Yale guard John Poulakidas ’25 seemed to be the only Eli who could consistently find the bottom of the basket, posting 23 points in his final collegiate game.

However, some unexpected players came out of the woodwork for the Bulldogs today: Isacc Celiscar ’28 and Riley Fox ’28, both first years on the team. 

Celiscar has been known to stay calm under pressure; that is precisely what he did today. The first-year put up 10 points coming in from the bench, making several baskets under pressure from the paint. 

Fox was another helping hand, subbing in for starter Casey Simmons, putting up 6 points for Yale. 

“Both players are going to be really good for us, as well as Jordan Brathwaite, who you got a little glimpse of,” Jones said. “Next year and beyond I expect those guys to be part of our program and sitting up here with us the next time we’re in the NCAA tournament.”

As for the rest of the team, they struggled to connect and keep possession of the ball, an issue we haven’t seen much this season. The combination of nerves and an incredibly physical opponent seemed to get the best of the Elis today. 

Fouls also hindered the Bulldogs, with the physical style of the Aggies putting several Bulldogs into trouble and forcing them to the bench. 

The team went in hoping for an upset, but that’s ultimately not how the cards shook out today. The Bulldogs fought until the end, putting up points in the last 30 seconds; however, the gap had already widened too much.

This season was one for the team’s four seniors — Poulakidis, Mbeng, Jack Malloy ’25 and team captain Teo Rice ’25 – to be proud of, making it to March Madness for a second consecutive year. 

“We built a brotherhood here,” Poulakidis said after the game, tearing up. “Thinking that this is the last game I’m going to put a Yale jersey on with Bez Mbeng just breaks my heart. It just breaks my heart… I’m so grateful for Yale for giving me everything that it has. I’m grateful to Coach Jones for everything he’s given me. It’s just a brotherhood. All the trips, the bus rides, the dinners, the early mornings, the late nights. Everything.”

Spencer King | spencer.king@yale.edu

Sienna Tejpaul | sienna.tejpaul@yale.edu 

The post BREAKING: MEN’S BASKETBALL: Bulldogs fall to Aggies 80–71 appeared first on Yale Daily News.

Ahead of this year’s March Madness tournament, the News took a look at the Ivy League performance’s in the tournament over the past twenty years. Recently, Ivy League teams have proven to be an unexpected strong competitor in March Madness. 

With Yale’s 2025 Ivy Championship bid, they have made it to the Big Dance five times since the 2015-16 season. 

In 2024, Yale came up with one of the biggest upsets in current history. The Bulldogs came into the tournament ready to compete and took down the No.4 seed Auburn in a close 78–76 game. 

Yale Head Coach James Jones was asked about why Ivy teams have found unexpected success at yesterday’s press conference held ahead of the first round matchups in Denver.

 “People don’t think we’re any good. Nobody gives you any credit for being any good. If you read the name on the chest and you see an Ivy League school, you’re supposed to be X, Y or Z, but it’s a misnomer. It’s not reality.” 

This is representative of what makes Ivy teams different from their opponents, that underdog spirit. Ivy teams have consistently been underestimated, yet it’s done nothing but fuel them to huge successes in the tournament. 

In 2023, Princeton qualified as a No. 15 seed and made a historic run all the way to the Sweet 16. The Tigers took down No. 2 Arizona, 59–55 in the first round and No. 7 Missouri 78–63 in the second.

In 2016, Yale won its first NCAA tournament game when they defeated Baylor 79–75 in the first round. 

In 2014 and 2013, Harvard took down both of their first round opponents, Cincinnati and New Mexico, respectively. 

In the past twenty years, Ivy League teams have proved their tenacity and ability to take down several top seeded teams going into the NCAA tournament. Princeton’s Sweet 16 run is a legendary one, and Yale’s consistency in making the tournament these past five years has been something to watch out for. 

“We feel like, again, we can be competitive and the teams in our league can be competitive against a lot of teams in the country. Now, are we the best team in the entire country? Well, we’re going to have our opportunity to prove that, but we certainly feel like we can compete with anybody, and I think that’s what’s really important,” Jones said.

The Ivy success trend bodes well for our No. 13 Bulldogs who are set to take on No. 4 Texas A&M Thursday night. 

The team is sure to take many lessons from their major upset last year, also against a No. 4 seeded SEC school. 

“[Last year’s upset] definitely brings us a lot of confidence,” John Poulakidas ’25 told the News. “Obviously Texas A&M brings a different challenge that Auburn brought last year, but the fact that we know that we can play on this stage honestly with anybody in the country is something that carries us to working hard, and we’re excited for the opportunity tomorrow.” 

Both Poulakidas and star defensive man Bez Mbeng ’25 were on the Yale teams that went to the 2022 and 2024 March Madness tournament. That experience in the national tournament should help calm their nerves as they hit the court. 

Yale is set to play Texas A&M at 5:25 pm MST on Thursday. The game will be played in the Ball Arena in Denver, CO and can be watched on TBS.

The post MEN’S BASKETBALL: How far can an Ivy go? appeared first on Yale Daily News.

The No. 13 Bulldogs are coming into the game after winning the Ivy League Championship versus Cornell, ready to leave it all out on the court as they take on the No. 4 Aggies. 

“People don’t think we’re any good,” Yale head coach James Jones said Wednesday. “If you read the name on the chest and you see an Ivy League school, you’re supposed to be X, Y or Z, but it’s a misnomer. We feel like we can compete with anybody.” 

Despite their clear status as underdogs, there is reason to believe Yale may pull off the upset. According to March Madness brackets submitted to ESPN, Yale is predicted as the most likely 13 seed vs. 4 seed upset in the first round, with 23 percent of brackets projecting the Bulldogs to win. 

This is Yale’s second consecutive year winning the Ivy Championship and making it to March Madness. Last year, the Bulldogs pulled off a major upset against Auburn during the first round. 

Looking at the Aggies current team, they are a force to be reckoned with. Wade Taylor IV, Zhuric Phelps and Andersson Garcia are some of the stars for the Aggies this season. Taking a look at their strengths, these players match up well with the Bulldogs star trio, John Poulakidas ’25, Bez Mbeng ’25 and Nick Townsend ’26. 

Taylor IV and Poulakidas are known for their sharp shooting ability, Phelps and Mbeng for their defensive prowess, and Garcia and Townsend for their all out hustle and rebounding. 

Fans should also keep an eye out for what will be a rebounding battle between two of the best teams in the nation on the glass. Texas A&M is the best offensive rebounding team in the country, pulling down an impressive 42 percent of their missed shots. However, Yale stands out as a team that may matchup well against the Aggies, ranking 18th in the nation in defensive rebounds per game and 14th in rebounding margin. 

“They’re tenacious, they’re physical, they’re strong,” Jones said of the Aggies. “They go after the ball like nobody I’ve seen in a long time. So boxing out is going to be truly important for us.

Another statistic to watch during the game will be how well Yale shoots from three-point range, as it is often the long ball that powers upsets in March. The Bulldogs shoot 38.5 percent from three, good for 9th in the country, and the team will likely need that to match that number to keep up with their SEC opponent. 

Yale and Texas A&M have not faced each other since 1975 when A&M won the only match up in history. The Aggies have not taken the court since a double overtime loss to the University of Texas in the SEC Tournament on March 13. 

The game will take place at the Ball Arena in Denver. Tip off will be at 5:25 p.m. local time or 7:25 p.m. EST.

The post MARCH MADNESS: No. 13 Yale takes on No. 4 Texas A&M in first round of March Madness appeared first on Yale Daily News.