Women's Basketball: Banner to be unfurled as team opens with Fairleigh Dickinson

When the Tigers unfurl a new Ivy League Championship banner, however, they will find themselves in a new season with stronger opponents and high expectations.

Even the longest journeys start with a single step regardless of the challenges ahead. For Banghart and her Tigers, this first game will be about finding solid ground.

Last year Banghart led the best team in the history of the women’s basketball program. Princeton had a 21-game win streak, and every game that it won was by double digits. The Tigers finished with an undefeated Ivy League record of 14-0 and earned a No. 11 seed in the NCAA tournament. The momentous season also earned Princeton a vote in the national USA Today/ESPN coaches’ preseason poll.

Regardless of last year’s results, fans will have to wait “until [the Tigers] put on their uniforms and until we take the floor [to] see how it all comes out,” Banghart said.

“What I remember about last year is that I really liked how they worked in practice,” Banghart added. “I liked their fight, and I really enjoyed going to work. There is a little different feel [this year], but they definitely still have that strong fight.”

Princeton’s offense will return with the same five starters, four of whom averaged more than 10 points per game last season. Key returners include sophomore forward Niveen Rasheed and junior guard Lauren Edwards, who led the team in scoring with an average of 15.6 and 13.4 points per game, respectively.

Saturday’s game will also be the first in Fairleigh Dickinson’s schedule. Key returning players for the Knights include guard Mariyah Laury, who finished last season with 17.6 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game and 67 total assists. Guard Alyssa Mayrose will provide another offensive outlet, averaging 12.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last year.

Fairleigh Dickinson finished with a 9-20 record last season. The Knights have no major personnel changes and will play the same five starters as last year.

Princeton has historically fared well against the Knights, with an overall record of 13-4. Last year Princeton defeated Fairleigh Dickinson in a blowout 77-44 victory. During that matchup, senior forward and co-captain Addie Micir put up 16 points and had 3 assists.

Banghart said she did not have any particular worries about Fairleigh Dickinson, adding, “Hopefully we won’t use the word ‘worry’ all that much this season.”

By the numbers, it would seem that Princeton has an edge going into this game, and it could still play an important role for Princeton, as it may indicate the strength of the Tigers’ bench.

“We have great depth on paper and in practice,” Banghart said. “There definitely is not a top five and then everyone else.”

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In particular, the game may give Princeton’s nationally ranked freshman recruits Nichole Hung and Alex Rodgers a safe place to start playing at the college level.

“Our new recruits are incredibly talented and offer a unique skill set,” Banghart explained. “But there is something that cannot be denied, and that is the fact that they are freshmen, so they are still really on a high seat in terms of our offensive flow and defensive play.”

Regardless of how the game plays out, winning is always the first priority for the Tigers.

“You never go into a game already thinking how long anyone is going to play,” Banghart said. “The [players’] goal is to make sure that they are always an option, and my goal is to ensure that we are always in a position to win.”