NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament: President Obama’s Niece Threatened Before Princeton-Maryland Game

A mysterious caller left an eight-minute voicemail to warn officials at the athletic department of the University of Maryland that a man with a handgun was on campus to look for Leslie Robinson, President Obama’s niece, on Monday. Robinson is a forward for the Princeton women’s basketball team and was visiting Maryland to compete against their team in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Officials increased security for the game and placed undercover officers near the Princeton bench prior to tipoff, USA Today reported based on an anonymous source. Courtney Banghart, the head coach for Princeton, was informed of the call but Robinson was not told of the threat prior to the game. She is the daughter of Michelle Obama’s brother, Craig Robinson.

The game passed without incident and Maryland beat Princeton in a 85-70 victory, which spelled the first defeat of the Tigers’ season. President Obama was in the crowd to watch his niece's team play during Princeton's first-round victory against University of Wisconsin-Green Bay on Saturday. He had given eighth-ranked Princeton a slot in the Final Four in his bracket.