Women's hoops drops games to Harvard and Dartmouth

It was the calm before the storm. While the women's basketball team had compiled a not-so-impressive 1-21 overall and 1-8 Ivy League record, Princeton was encouraged. Losing its two games the previous weekend against Cor-nell and Col-umbia by a combined total of only six points — one being an overtime defeat by one point — produced an overall atmosphere of optimism as the Tigers prepared to face Harvard and Dartmouth over the weekend.

With five losses suddenly between the team and its only win, the two heartbreaking defeats made things look more promising, especially when compared to Princeton's first tumble through the Ivies, when it lost to Cornell and Columbia by just under 30.

Things were definitely improving, and with Harvard (10-14, 6-5) on the horizon, to whom Princeton lost earlier this season by just six points, 64-58, smooth sailing was predicted.

But an unexpected hurricane produced by the Crimson was a disaster for an already struggling ship. Harvard disabled Princeton, 72-36, doubling Princeton's point total and holding the Tigers to 21 percent shooting in the first half.

Princeton rebounded slightly in the second half to raise their shooting percentage to 34 percent, but 25 team turnovers more than compensated for the improved shooting.

No Tiger was able to hit double digits. Sophomore guard Allison Cahill and senior guard Jessica Munson led the team scoring with eight points each.

"It was the worst game of the year," Cahill said. "We couldn't do anything right. It's disappointing to know we can compete with them, we just played badly in every facet of the game — they scored at will, we had too many turnovers and we couldn't hit our shots."

But if anything, this Tiger team has acquired its sea legs — the tempestuous season has taught them how to recover from this kind of storm, which the Tigers proved the next night at Dartmouth. While they weren't able to produce a win, they did improve on the previous night's 32-point loss by holding the game within eight points, 67-59.

"We have to take the small victories," Cahill said. "The way we played after the disappointing Harvard game shows character. We have to know that there are still games left and that they're all winnable. Anybody can beat anybody in the Ivy League."

Though not a win, the Dartmouth game definitely presented a series of victories of that kind. Sophomore forward Maureen Lane led all scorers with 21 points. Both Cahill and sophomore forward Lee Culp were in double digits with 16 and 13 points, respectively. The Tigers were also able to end the game with fewer total turnovers than the Big Green (10-14, 7-4), 15 compared to their 17.

"We're going to finish the season no matter what," Cahill said. "There might not be much to play for as far as tangible goals, like a playoff spot, but we're not happy with the way the season has gone and we want to try to salvage it."

While Princeton has now fallen to 1-23, 1-10, the Tigers have a good chance next weekend to recover from the Harvard blow with Yale and Brown coming to Jadwin. The Eli rematch is important for the Tigers — they have the opportunity to defend their win — and while the Brown game last time around was a 68-35 blowout, that means there is that much more room for improvement and small victories.