Women's basketball on longest winning streak in six years

Though stuck on campus for most of Winter Break, women's basketball head coach Richard Barron could not have asked for a better holiday present than the four wins his team delivered as 2004 came to a close.

The Tigers (6-5 overall) got off to a slow start with a 56-46 loss to St. Mary's (9-5) at home. Though sophomore guard Elyse Umeda scored 15 points, it was not enough to overtake the Gaels.

The team came out strong, and midway through the first half, the game was tied 10 with the Tigers matching each St. Mary basket. But Princeton soon began to lose steam, allowing the Gaels to take off and gain a lead that the Tigers were never quite able to close.

That game, however, would be the last disappointment for Princeton as the team embarked on its longest winning streak since the 1998-1999 season. The Tigers began by defeating New Orleans (0-11) in a game in which Princeton was able to take advantage of its depth. Freshman standout guard Meghan Cowher contributed 13 points, and the team came up with 12 steals in the game. These contributions allowed the Tigers to jump to an early lead. Princeton ground out a 47-36 win at home.

The win seemed to spark a change in the Tigers, as every member of the team stepped up and improved on earlier problems.

"This team is enjoying winning and having fun," Barron said. "I think they're starting to relax a bit and enjoy themselves on the court. Our rebounding has improved dramatically and we're getting good leadership from our captains."

Sailing on the coattails of their previous win, Princeton moved on to its next contest where it demolished Mount St. Mary's (1-10), 79-58. Junior forward Becky Brown, one of the players who has elevated her play from earlier in the season, sunk a season-high 21 points and contributed six rebounds.

The team as a whole had an easy time putting the ball in the basket, shooting a season-high 48.3 percent from the floor. Junior guard Katy O'Brien's hit all three of her three-point attempts, and guided the Tigers to a 20-point lead at half and the team never looked back.

Ten days and a few Christmas presents later, Princeton recorded its third straight win as it struggled through a close game against Fairleigh Dickinson (1-8). In the end, the Tigers prevailed 58-51 on the road.

The Knights proved to be a tough challenge for the Tigers in a game that came down to free throws and rebounds. Sophomore forward Katy Digovich finished seven of eight from the charity stripe, and Cowher deliverd end of game heriocs to stave off FDU. Cowher rebounded a missed free throw by Brown, and scored on the putback while being fouled.

The contest featured 15 lead changes and 13 ties, the last one at 51 coming with one minute, 50 seconds remaining in the game. Brown scored in the post while being fouled, and Cowher followed with her heroics.

Cowher was only getting started, as this Monday night she had the best game of her young career. She paced the Tigers to a 67-50 win over St. Peter's (5-6) at home. The freshman forward from Pittsburgh scored a career-high 28 points and added nine rebounds.