Tigers traverse Scandinavia in summer training trip

A month before the rest of the students would return to campus, the Tigers were suffering though unbearable heat and humidity to play basketball in the un-air-conditioned Jadwin gym with a different set of rules — a 24-second shot clock instead of the ordinary 30 and a three-point line extended several inches. This seemingly cruel and unusual punishment was not in vain, however; the Tigers were practicing the European version of the game in preparation for their trip to Scandinavia.

On Aug. 14, 11 players on the varsity women's basketball team, along with four coaches and a multitude of other support staff, traveled to Europe for a 10-day, six-game tour. After five practices in the New Jersey summer heat, the team flew to Copenhagen, Denmark and immediately drove over the 10-mile long Oresund Bridge to Malmo, Sweden. There they would spend the next two and a half days touring and playing the first games of the trip.

The games themselves posed quite a challenge for the team, as the European rules result in faster-paced games where the typically slow and deliberate Princeton offense is ineffective.

But the team adjusted quickly. In their first European game, the Tigers beat the Danish National Team by a 64-55 margin. In the second game of the two-game series, Princeton fell to the Danes in a tough 76-71 overtime loss.

Since their games were scheduled at night, the Tigers were able to spend the day as tourists. While in Malmo, for example, the team rented bikes to explore the city.

"We all visited the beach, museums, parks and beautiful gardens and have some great pictures from that day," senior guard Katy O'Brien said.

On the way to its next stop in Oslo, Norway, the team stopped in Goteborg, Sweden, for a night of fun at the largest amusement park in Scandinavia.

When it arrived in Oslo the next day, the team immediately rushed to the Royal Palace to see the changing of the guard.

That night, the Tigers opened their two-game series against the Norwegian National Team. Both games ended in defeat for Princeton, 80-73 and 89-69, respectively.

"It was clear that they had been playing together much longer than we had, and they were at a level of conditioning that we're working towards reaching this preseason," O'Brien said. "If anything, it motivated us to work harder and maximize our potential."

"Although probably not as talented as us, they out-executed us on offense and played strong defense," junior guard Lillie Romeiser added.

Outside of basketball, highlights in Oslo included visiting the Frogner Sculpture Park and climbing to the top of the Holmenkollen, the well-known Olympic ski jump.

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After its two games in Oslo, the team took an overnight cruise to Copenhagen.

While on board, the Tigers "had a wonderful buffet dinner, went swimming, sat out on the deck of the boat and spent the late evening dancing away in one of the club areas," Romeiser said.

When they arrived in Copenhagen the next morning, the team took a tour of the city and spent the afternoon resting in preparation for their games against the Danish club team Horsholm.

These final two games went well for Princeton, as the Tigers brought their European record to 3-3 with two wins over the Danish team, 64-62 and 77-66, respectively.

After its final game, Princeton had a pizza party with the Danish team, offering the players a chance to chat and exchange phrases.

"It was especially rewarding to spend time after our last game hanging out with the other team and speaking to them about their lives and experiences with basketball," O'Brien said.

In terms of basketball, the trip gave the Tigers a preview of how well they work together and what they should focus on for the upcoming season.

"Personally, the trip was a great confidence-building experience for me. It was an opportunity to play six games with very little to lose and everything to gain," sophomore guard Ali Prichard said.

And even beyond the basketball skills attained, the trip was a valuable experience for all.

"Our time together was blessed with many great conversations, new experiences and countless laughs," Romeiser said.

"The best part about the non-basketball time was the bonding that went on both among the players and between the players and coaches," Prichard added. "It was priceless to see our coaches screaming like little kids on roller coasters, taking a million pictures and eating ice cream every chance they got."