Ashley Chea Named Ivy Player of the Week for the Second Time

Ashley Chea's and Carla Berube's Achievements Highlight Princeton's Season Success

Ashley Chea was named Ivy Player of the Week for the second time this year, as announced by the conference. She was recognized for her standout performance in the game against the Penn Quakers, where she scored a career-high 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting. In addition to her scoring, Chea contributed four rebounds and three assists, helping the Princeton Tigers secure a 74-60 victory. Her five three-pointers played a key role in the win, which also marked Carla Berube's 500th career victory. The Tigers were set to host Brown and Yale at Jadwin Gym later that week. During the 2023-24 season, Ashley Chea appeared in every game for the Tigers. She contributed 13 points against Rutgers (Dec. 13), 15 points with five treys at Le Moyne (Dec. 31), and 11 points at Harvard (Jan. 13). She also recorded 11 points and four assists against Cornell (Jan. 27), 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting at Brown (Feb. 16), and 10 points in the Ivy Tournament Championship against Columbia (Mar. 16).

In the 2022-23 season, Ashley posted impressive performances, including 11 points, five assists, and three steals at DePaul (Nov. 9), 17 points with five treys vs. Villanova (Nov. 13), and 20 points with nine rebounds at Rutgers (Nov. 24). She also contributed 17 points at Temple (Nov. 26), 11 points, seven rebounds, and five assists at Utah (Dec. 8), and 18 points with six assists vs. Rhode Island (Dec. 11). Additional highlights included 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists vs. Vermont (Dec. 14), 16 points with six assists vs. Le Moyne (Dec. 31), and 14 points, seven assists, and five rebounds against Cornell (Jan. 4).

Before Princeton, at Flintridge Prep, Ashley was a two-time captain, a McDonald's All-American nominee, and a John Wooden Award Finalist. She earned CIF Division AAA Player of the Year and Star-News Player of the Year honours in 2023 and was named First-Team All-League three times (2020-2023). With 1,707 points and 325 assists over three seasons, she led her team to three undefeated Prep League titles and the 2023 Division AA CIF championship. Additionally, she lettered in softball and earned Dean's List honours all four years, making the Honor Roll for two years.

Carla Berube, in her sixth season as head coach of Princeton’s women’s basketball team in 2024-25, has led the Tigers to exceptional success, with four Ivy League championships in four seasons. Her overall record at Princeton stands at 100-17, including three Ivy League Tournament titles and two NCAA victories. In 2023-24, Princeton won its fifth consecutive Ivy League Tournament and secured a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The team faced a tough non-conference schedule and notched a fourth top-25 win in program history over Oklahoma. Under her leadership, the Tigers went 24-6 in 2022-23, advancing to the NCAA Tournament's Second Round for the second consecutive year. In 2021-22, Berube guided the team to a 25-5 record and a second-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament. She was named Ivy League Coach of the Year and coached Ivy League Player of the Year Abby Meyers. In 2019-20, Princeton posted a 26-1 record and a 22-game winning streak before the postseason was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Berube, who took over at Princeton in 2019 after 17 successful years at Tufts University, has also coached internationally with USA Basketball, winning gold medals with the U.S. Under-16 and Under-17 national teams. At Tufts, she compiled a 384-96 record and reached the NCAA Division III Final Four four times. Berube is a 1997 UConn graduate, where she was a key player on the 1995 NCAA championship team. After playing professionally, she began her coaching career as an assistant at Providence before becoming Tufts' head coach in 2002. At Tufts, she earned numerous coaching accolades and led the team to the Division III championship game in 2016 and 2017.

Berube is a member of the Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and New England Basketball Hall of Fame, with honours including the 2015 National Coach of the Year award and multiple regional and conference Coach of the Year honours. She is married to Meghan, and they have three children: Parker, Caden, and Brogan. Ashley Chea's stellar performances and Carla Berube's exceptional leadership continue to drive the Princeton Tigers to new heights.

Editor's Note:

The recognition of Ashley Chea as Ivy Player of the Week, coupled with the celebration of Carla Berube's 500th career victory, highlights the extraordinary talent and dedication within Princeton's women’s basketball program. Ashley's impressive contributions on the court underscore her potential and resilience, making her a standout player in the Ivy League. Meanwhile, Coach Berube's remarkable achievements, both at Princeton and beyond, reflect her unwavering commitment to excellence and her ability to inspire her team to reach their fullest potential. The detailed recount of Ashley's performances over the past seasons and Coach Berube's illustrious career exemplify the synergy of individual brilliance and strategic leadership that defines the Princeton Tigers. 

Skoobuzz believes that as the team continues to build on its successes, the future looks bright for Princeton's women’s basketball, promising even more memorable moments and milestones.