Princeton's women's basketball team (6-11 overall, 1-2 Ivy League) won a game over intersession, but it was its least important one. After dropping Ivy League games to Harvard and Dartmouth — their more important contests — the Tigers find themselves in a hole early in the season.
The Tigers fell 78-42 to first place Harvard (12-4, 4-0) Friday in Cambridge, Mass. Princeton then traveled to Hanover, N.H., where it dropped a 74-52 decision to Dartmouth (7-10, 1-3).
An easy road win
The Tigers' break started off easy in Easton, Penn., where they took on a struggling Lafayette team. The Leopards entered the game at 2-16 on the year, and carried a four-game losing streak into the matchup.
After Lafayette scored the first two points of the game from the free-throw line, the Tigers took control. Senior guard Allison Cahill scored eight unanswered points off a layup and two three-pointers. Princeton maintained a ten-point lead for much of the first half, taking a 34-22 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
The key statistic was Princeton's performance from three-point range. The Tigers shot 58 percent from beyond the arc in the first half. Sophomore guard Karen Bolster went four-for-five in her first half three-point attempts, with Cahill adding three trifectas to the cause.
The Leopards tightened their perimeter defense in the second half, but were largely unable to threaten the Tiger lead. Princeton was held to only six three-point attempts in the second half. Freshman post Rebecca Brown stepped up to provide the Tigers with 15 points.
The Tigers held off the Leopards' attempts for a comeback, and earned their first road victory of the season, 70-56. Brown and Bolster led the Tigers in scoring with 22 points apiece.
First Ivy League loss
A solid Harvard defense spelled doom for the Tigers on Friday night, though. Princeton was held to just nine three-point attempts for the entire game, which is remarkably low for a team that usually takes about 20 three-point attempts per game.
Harvard's defense also forced the Tigers to turn the ball over 31 times, and shoot a meager 36 per cent from the field.
The beginning of the game looked good for the Tigers, as they jumped out to an 8-4 lead in the first two minutes, with six of the eight points coming from three-pointers. After that, however, the Crimson adjusted to the Tiger offense and gained control of the game, taking a 20-10 lead with 13 minutes left in the half.
Princeton then managed to go on a 7-2 run to get within five of the Crimson, but Harvard once again answered back with a 14-2 run that led to a 36-19 lead. The Tigers trailed 41-29 at the half.
Things looked bad for the Tigers when the Crimson opened up the second half with a 10-0 run. Princeton scored only 13 points in the second half, and eventually fell to the Crimson, 78-42. Cahill led the scoring for the Tigers with nine points, and Brown had eight points. Junior forward Kelly Schaeffer had nine rebounds on the day.
And then another
Saturday night the Tigers continued their struggles from the night before, taking on the Big Green. Dartmouth dominated the first half from the opening tip, scoring the first eight points of the game. Senior forward Maureen Lane opened up the scoring for the Tigers three minutes into the game.
Princeton would close the gap to 12-6, but ice-cold shooting led to a 34-16 deficit at the half. The Tigers missed all eight of their first half three-point opportunities, and shot only 25 percent from the field.
Once again, the Tigers started the second half on the wrong foot, as the Big Green took a 12-2 run to gain a 46-18 advantage. Freshman guard Ali Smith posted a career-high nine points as the Tigers struggled to fight back. Yet the whole they dug themselves into was too deep, and they fell to the Big Green, dropping their Ivy League record to 1-2. Lane led Princeton in scoring with 12 points.
Read More
Men’s soccer falls to Hofstra 1–0 in spirited matchup
Lily Pampolina and Alex Beverton-SmithAfter a decisive victory over Rutgers to open the season, the Tigers fell to the Hofstra Pride 1–0 on Wednesday night.
After a decisive victory over Rutgers to open the season, the Tigers fell to the Hofstra Pride 1–0 on Wednesday night.
Corners win games: field hockey splits pair of games in Tiger Invitational
Emilia ReayIn their opening tournament, Princeton beat Old Dominion before losing to the second-ranked University of North Carolina at the Tiger Invitational.
In their opening tournament, Princeton beat Old Dominion before losing to the second-ranked University of North Carolina at the Tiger Invitational.
Preview and Staff Picks: Men’s soccer vs. Rutgers
Harrison Blank, Joseph Uglialoro, and Alex Beverton-SmithIn their first matchup of the season, the Tigers face the Scarlet Knights on Sept. 5 at Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium. The team will hope to have a positive start to the year against their state rivals.
In their first matchup of the season, the Tigers face the Scarlet Knights on Sept. 5 at Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium. The team will hope to have a positive start to the year against their state rivals.