Bella Alarie | Small Forward | Princeton | 6-foot-4

Senior Season Stats: 23 GP, 17.5 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.35 BPG, 1.22 SPG, 47.4 FG%, 35.6 3P%, 74.4 FT%

Princeton Career Stats: 106 GP, 16.1 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.35 BPG, 1.20 SPG, 48.0 FG%, 34.8 3P%, 76.1 FT%

1. Would be only the third Ivy League player ever selected in the WNBA Draft

Over the first 23 WNBA drafts, the only two players from the Ivy League to be selected were Allison Feaster of Harvard (1998, 1st Round, 5th Pick, Los Angeles Sparks) and Leslie Robinson of Princeton (2018, 3rd Round, 34th Pick, New York Liberty). This would make two selections in a three-year period for Princeton.

2. She owns the Ivy League single-game scoring record

As a junior, Alarie scored a career-best 45 points against Columbia to set the Ivy League single-game mark. In that game, she shot 20-of-28 from the field, collected 14 rebounds and had four blocked shots in Princeton’s 79-64 win. Alarie had her best statistical season as a junior, when she averaged career-highs of 22.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.82 blocks and 32.1 minutes per game.

3. Her versatility makes her a tantalizing prospect

While some will question the level of competition that Alarie faced at a mid-major compared to other prospects from “power five” conferences, few will question that her skill set should translate to the pro level. Alarie stands 6-foot-4 today, but was not very tall while growing up, which led her to work on guard skills rather than always working in the post. Now she can score from all three levels – she’s a 35.6% shooter from three, can work off the dribble and back down opponents in the post.

4. Alarie earned national recognition and had Princeton in position for a strong NCAA Tournament run

Alarie became just the third player in Ivy League history to win Player of the Year honors for three consecutive years, joining Harvard’s Allison Feaster and Penn’s Diana Caramanico. She was named an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American for the second straight season – becoming the first Ivy League women’s player to accomplish that feat. Princeton posted a 26-1 record and ended the season riding a 22-game win streak. The Tigers ranked 22nd in the AP poll and 17th in the coaches poll, which would have earned a strong NCAA seed had the tournament been played.

5. Synergy Stats Spotlight: Efficient post play on both ends of the court

Post-ups accounted for nearly 30 percent of Alarie’s offensive possessions and she ranked in the 91st percentile in all of women’s college basketball as she scored 1.067 points per post up possession. She shot 52.6% out of the post and drew shooting fouls at a 15.8% rate. Defensively, Alarie ranked in the 95th percentile as she held opponents to a paltry 0.465 points per possession and 26.5% shooting. Alarie averaged 2.35 blocks per game as a senior, which ranked 26th in the NCAA.

Images Courtesy of Princeton Athletics*

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