It's that Banghart was more concerned with making sure her Tigers — including Obama's niece, a freshman forward — would stay unbeaten and win a women's NCAA Tournament game for the first time.
After trailing at halftime with the First Fan in attendance Saturday, eighth-seeded Princeton came back to improve to 31-0, beating No. 9 seed Wisconsin-Green Bay 80-70 behind Michelle Miller's 20 points, Annie Tarakchian's 19, and a 49-22 rebounding edge.
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Princeton forward Leslie Robinson (45) reacts to an official's call in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Green Bay in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Saturday, March 21, 2015, in College Park, Md. Robinson is the niece of President Barack Obama, who was in attendance at the game.
"He was actually sitting right in front of my family, so I'd look back at my family, and I'd be like, 'Oh, my God. It's Barack.' But it certainly wasn't in my focus," Banghart said.
"And that's not belittling his importance. That will go down as a highlight, as well, and I'm hoping there's a picture of me — and he's somewhere in the background," she continued. "Someone got that, right?"
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Duke players celebrate after the NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament championship game against Wisconsin Monday, April 6, 2015, in Indianapolis. Duke won 68-63.
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Duke players celebrate on the court after their 68-63 victory over Wisconsin in the NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament championship game Monday, April 6, 2015, in Indianapolis.
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Duke's Quinn Cook and head coach Mike Krzyzewski celebrate their 68-63 victory with the championship trophy over Wisconsin in the NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament championship game Monday, April 6, 2015, in Indianapolis.
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Duke players celebrate after the NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament championship game against Wisconsin Monday, April 6, 2015, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski cuts down the net after his team's 68-63 victory over Wisconsin in the NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament championship game Monday, April 6, 2015, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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Wisconsin's Bronson Koenig (24) shoots during the second half of the NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament championship game against Duke Monday, April 6, 2015, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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Duke players celebrate after the NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament championship game against Wisconsin Monday, April 6, 2015, in Indianapolis. Duke won 68-63. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky runs to the court before the NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament championship game against Duke Monday, April 6, 2015, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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Duke's Justise Winslow, left, greets Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky at the start of the NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament championship game Monday, April 6, 2015, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky (44) tries to block a shot by Duke's Grayson Allen (3) during the first half of the NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament championship game Monday, April 6, 2015, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Chris Steppig, Pool)
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The Wisconsin bench celebrates as Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein walks off the court after Badgers stunned the previously undefeated Wildcats to win the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game on Saturday, April 4, 2015, in Indianapolis.
Wisconsin's Sam Dekker (15) shoots over Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein (15) during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game Saturday, April 4, 2015, in Indianapolis.
Kentucky's Trey Lyles (41) dunks the ball ahead of Wisconsin's Zak Showalter during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game Saturday, April 4, 2015, in Indianapolis.
Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns (12) drives to the basket past Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky (44) during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game Saturday, April 4, 2015, in Indianapolis.
Duke's Grayson Allen (3) dunks the ball during the second half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game against Michigan State Saturday, April 4, 2015, in Indianapolis.
Duke's Quinn Cook is fouled by Michigan State's Marvin Clark Jr. (0) during the second half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game Saturday, April 4, 2015, in Indianapolis.
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Michigan State's Branden Dawson (22) shoots against Duke's Grayson Allen (3) during the second half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game Saturday, April 4, 2015, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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The Duke Blue Devils stuffed the Gonzaga Bulldogs out of the tournament on March 29, 2015. The 66-52 win sent the Blue Devils to the Final Four.
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Michigan State players celebrated their upset victory over Louisville, advancing to the Final Four with a 76-70 win.
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Wisconsin defeated Arizona in their Elite Eight matchup to advance to the Final Four, 85-78.
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The Kentucky Wildcats held on to their undefeated record and punched a ticket to the Final Four with a 68-66 last-second victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
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In the only upset of the Sweet 16 matchups, the 7th-ranked Michigan State Spartans toppled the 3rd-ranked Oklahoma Sooners in a 62-58 victory.
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Gonzaga advanced from the Sweet Sixteen after defeating UCLA, 74-62.
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The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels in their Sweet 16 game, advancing to the Elite 8 with a 79-72 victory.
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Duke won by a six-point margin over Utah in their Sweet 16 matchup, advancing to the Elite Eight in a 63-57 victory.
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Notre Dame advanced to the Elite Eight after its Sweet 16 victory over Wichita State, 81-70.
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Xavier held on but couldn't unseat the higher-seeded Arizona in their Sweet 16 game. Arizona won, 68-60.
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The undefeated Kentucky Wildcats dispatched the West Virginia Mountaineers with a 78-39 victory in their Sweet 16 Matchup.
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N.C. State, hopeful to advance after clinching its Sweet 16 berth, was swatted out of the tournament by Louisville, 75-65.
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SYRACUSE, NY - MARCH 29: Alvin Ellis III #3 and Marvin Clark Jr. #0 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrate defeating the Louisville Cardinals 76 to 70 in overtime of the East Regional Final of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Carrier Dome on March 29, 2015 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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Jonathan Holton #1 of the West Virginia Mountaineers and Dez Wells #44 of the Maryland Terrapins vie for the ball in the second half during the third round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2015 in Columbus, Ohio.
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Dayton's Kendall Pollard, left, fights for the ball with Oklahoma's Frank Booker in the second half of an NCAA tournament college basketball game in the Round of 32 in Columbus, Ohio, Sunday, March 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
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Wisconsin forward Nigel Hayes (10) is fouled by Oregon forward Dillon Brooks while driving to the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball tournament Round of 32 game, Sunday, March 22, 2015, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Kansas guard Devonte Graham (4) drives to the basket between Wichita State defenders Shaquille Morris (24) and Ron Baker (31) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball tournament Round of 32 game, Sunday, March 22, 2015, in Omaha, Neb. Wichita State won 78-65. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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Jamari Traylor of the Kansas Jayhawks dunks against the New Mexico State Aggies during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the CenturyLink Center on March 20, 2015 in Omaha, Nebraska.
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Notre Dame's Demetrius Jackson (11) throws down a dunk during the first half of an NCAA college basketball third round game against Butler in Pittsburgh Saturday, March 21, 2015. Notre Dame won 67-64 in overtime. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Jerian Grant of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Quincy Ford of the Northeastern Huskies vie for possession during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on March 19, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 19: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams looks on against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2015 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
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LOUISVILLE, KY - MARCH 19: Thomas Welsh #40 and Norman Powell #4 of the UCLA Bruins reacts after defeating the Southern Methodist Mustangs during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournamenat at the KFC YUM! Center on March 19, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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LOUISVILLE, KY - MARCH 19: Thomas Welsh #40 of the UCLA Bruins reacts towards the end of the game against the Southern Methodist Mustangs during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournamenat at the KFC YUM! Center on March 19, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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JACKSONVILLE, FL - MARCH 19: Mississippi Rebels and Xavier Musketeers players run by the logo at mid-court during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on March 19, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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JACKSONVILLE, FL - MARCH 19: Isaiah Dennis #4 and T.J. Shipes #31 of the Georgia State Panthers celebrate after the Panthers win 57-56 against the Baylor Bears in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on March 19, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 19: Elliott Pitts #24 of the Arizona Wildcats defends Madarious Gibbs #3 of the Texas Southern Tigers in the second half during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2015 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
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JACKSONVILLE, FL - MARCH 19: Isaiah Hicks #22 of the North Carolina Tar Heels and Wesley Saunders #23 of the Harvard Crimson battle for a loose ball during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on March 19, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 19: Jae'Sean Tate #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes and D'Angelo Russell #0 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after defeating the Virginia Commonwealth Rams in overtime, 75-72, during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2015 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
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JACKSONVILLE, FL - MARCH 19: Remy Abell #10 of the Xavier Musketeers flexes after drawing a foul in the second half against the Mississippi Rebels during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on March 19, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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JACKSONVILLE, FL - MARCH 19: Matt Stainbrook #40 of the Xavier Musketeers drives on Martavious Newby #1 of the Mississippi Rebels in the second half during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on March 19, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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LOUISVILLE, KY - MARCH 19: Ryan Manuel #1 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs dunks the ball against the UCLA Bruins during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on March 19, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky.
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Cannen Cunningham and Sterling Brown of the Southern Methodist Mustangs walk off the court after losing against the UCLA Bruins during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on March 19, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky.
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Kenny Paul Geno of the Georgia Bulldogs goes after a loose ball against teammates Matt Costello and Marvin Clark Jr. of the Michigan State Spartans during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on March 20, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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Wayne Blackshear of the Louisville Cardinals celebrates after defeating the UC Irvine Anteaters during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on March 20, 2015.
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Alex Young of the UC Irvine Anteaters drives to the basket against the Louisville Cardinals in the second half during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
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Riley Grabau of the Wyoming Cowboys blocks a shot by Seth Tuttle of the Northern Iowa Panthers during the second round of the 2015 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament.
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Paul Jesperson of the Northern Iowa Panthers carries the ball over Derek Cooke Jr. of the Wyoming Cowboys during the second round of the 2015 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament.
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Head coach Bob Huggins of the West Virginia Mountaineers reacts as a foul is called after Xavier Ford of the Buffalo Bulls and Nathan Adrian of the West Virginia Mountaineers get tangled going for the ball.
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New Mexico State Aggies players look on from the bench in the closing minutes against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the CenturyLink Center on March 20, 2015 in Omaha, Nebraska.
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Jared Nickens #11 of the Maryland Terrapins jumps to block a shot by David Skara #10 of the Valparaiso Crusaders during the second round of the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 20, 2015 in Columbus, Ohio.
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LSU's Josh Gray tries to keep the ball in bounds in front of North Carolina State's Beejay Anya and Anthony Barber, #12, during the first half of an NCAA tournament second round college basketball game, March 19, 2015, in Pittsburgh.
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Lafayette's Seth Hinrichs shoots in front of Villanova's Ryan Arcidiacono during the second half of an NCAA tournament second round college basketball game, March 19, 2015, in Pittsburgh.
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Kentucky forward Trey Lyles dunks during the first half of an NCAA tournament second round college basketball game against Hampton in Louisville, Ky., March 19, 2015. Kentucky won the game 79-56.
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North Carolina State's Beejay Anya, #21, watches as his game-winning shot as time runs out over LSU's Jordan Mickey, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball second round game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, March 19, 2015. NC State won 66-65.
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Jarred Guest, #23 of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams, dunks in front of D'Angelo Russell, #0, and teammate Amir Williams, #23 of the Ohio State Buckeyes, in the second half during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2015 in Portland, Oregon.
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Jonathan Williams, #10 of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams, dribbles past Sam Thompson, #12 of the Ohio State Buckeyes, in the first half during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2015 in Portland, Oregon.
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Notre Dame's Demetrius Jackson (11) tries to block a shot by Northeastern's Scott Eatherton during the second half of an NCAA tournament second round college basketball game, March 19, 2015, in Pittsburgh.
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The 14-seeded University of Alabama at Birmingham squeezed out an upset victory, 60-59, against 3rd-ranked Iowa State, leading to the first major upset of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball tournament.
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Alex Barlow #3 of the Butler Bulldogs drives against Isaiah Taylor #1 of the Texas Longhorns.
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Royce O'Neale #00 of the Baylor Bears rebounds the ball against Markus Crider #33 of the Georgia State Panthers.
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Kevon Looney of the UCLA Bruins looks to shoot a free throw during a second-round game against the Southern Methodist Mustangs on March 19, 2015.
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Bryce Alford #20 of the UCLA Bruins handles the ball against Nic Moore #11 of the Southern Methodist Mustangs.
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Jonathan Holmes #10 of the Texas Longhorns goes up against Andrew Chrabascz #45 and Kellen Dunham #24 of the Butler Bulldogs.
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Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Butler Bulldogs talks to Alex Barlow #3 in the first half against the Texas Longhorns.
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Brandon Ashley #21 of the Arizona Wildcats is defended by Nick Shepherd #33 of the Texas Southern Tigers.
There was some question whether Ivy League champion Princeton deserved a better seeding, given that it was the only undefeated women's team and was ranked 13th in the final AP poll. But the Tigers came in 0-4 in the NCAAs, all since 2010; indeed, Ivy League teams were 1-22 before Saturday.
"My NCAA Tournament record is atrocious," Banghart said. "But tonight, it's not so atrocious."
Coming now is by far the biggest challenge Princeton has faced all season: a game against No. 1 seed Maryland on the Terrapins' home floor. Maryland advanced Saturday by beating 16th-seeded New Mexico State 75-57.
Against Green Bay (28-5), Princeton fell behind by three points late in the first half and was down 35-34 at halftime.
Princeton is not accustomed to losing and it's not all that familiar with close calls, either, having won all but two of its games by at least 10 points.
As for Princeton's mental state heading into the second half, guard Blake Dietrick said, "We came out with an attitude of, 'OK, we got our feet wet. We know we're in this game. We know we can win this game. And we know we can play a lot better than we did in that first half.'"
And just like that, Princeton used a 15-3 run to lead 60-48 with about 9 minutes left on Alex Wheatley's fastbreak layup.
Mehryn Kraker led Green Bay with 21 points, and Kaili Lukan added 17. But the Phoenix shot just 8 of 27 on 3-pointers, while Princeton went 9 of 16.
Obama's niece, freshman forward Leslie Robinson, did not appear in the game.
The cheerer-in-chief arrived a few minutes before tipoff, taking a seat among orange-wearing Princeton fans not far off the court. Police cars dotted roads leading to the arena, and there was heavy security at entrances, including metal detectors and bomb-sniffing dogs.
"I shook his hand. And I got a picture," Green Bay coach Kevin Borseth said. "Well, the President came. I'm going to let my guard down for a minute and be excited about that."
During the second half, a brief chant of "Four more years!" rose from some spectators, drawing a chuckle from Obama.
Just like when any player's uncle shows up for a tournament game, right?
FIRST FAN
First lady Michelle Obama went to Princeton, as did her brother, Craig Robinson, who is Leslie's father and sat next to the President on Saturday. Showing family favoritism, President Obama picked Princeton to make it to the Final Four in his women's NCAA bracket.
BIGGER IS BETTER
Referring to Princeton's rebounding advantage, Banghart said: "We just hammered them on the glass."
Tarakchian had 17 rebounds, Wheatley had 10.
"When I came on the court and looked at them, I just saw the size of 'em," Borseth said. "And I knew that we were going to struggle trying to rebound."
TIP-INS:
Princeton: The only other Ivy League team to win a women's NCAA Tournament game was Harvard in 1998, when it became the only 16th seed to upset a No. 1 by beating Stanford.
Green Bay: Finished with only seven turnovers, but was outscored 21-8 at the foul line.
UP NEXT:
Princeton: Will face Maryland on Monday night. The Terrapins are on a 25-game winning streak.
