Women's Basketball: Vicious Tigers maul Blue Hens

Princeton’s aggressive offense served the team well. Even when shots didn’t make it through the basket, tight control of rebounds allowed the Tigers to earn points off near-turnovers.

The Tigers set the night’s tone with a three-pointer 15 seconds into the first period from junior guard Lauren Edwards. Princeton kept pressure against Delaware from the start, earning a six-point lead by the time the clock hit 16 minutes.

Princeton led 29-17 at the end of the first period, but the Tigers were more successful in the second half. Princeton’s advantage in the first 20 minutes came from a tight defense and second-chance points. In the second half, the Tigers managed to connect their shots without letting up on the defensive end.

The Tigers won the night on their three-point shots. Princeton only held a slight edge over Delaware in two-pointers, making 23 to the Blue Hens’ 18. Both teams scored 13 points off free throws.

But in the three-point game, Princeton was both more assertive and more accurate. For the night, the Tigers made 9-for-19 from behind the arc. The Blue Hens made only a single three-pointer out of their six attempts. The Tigers’ aggressive three-point shooting gave Princeton an edge that Delaware could not overcome.

Princeton kept control for most of the night, but Delaware was not without its moments. When the Blue Hens found momentum, they held it well. In the first period, this translated to a significant Delaware lead.

After a foul from sophomore guard Lauren Polansky, the Blue Hens mounted a strong offensive thrust. Delaware point guard Lauren Carra kept the ball out of the Tigers’ control while center Sarah Acker slimmed Princeton’s lead.

Delaware’s comeback caught the Tigers off guard. By eight minutes into the period, the Blue Hens had managed a four-point lead. Only a pair of three-point baskets from senior guard Addie Micir gave Princeton a 16-14 lead and brought the game back under the Tigers’ control.

With Princeton’s comeback, the Blue Hens lost their stride. Delaware continued to make baskets, but the Tigers kept a comfortable lead for the rest of the night.

The second half was better for players on both teams. The Tigers scored 10 more points in the second period than they scored in the first, and Delaware scored 33 points in the second frame after managing just 17 in the first.

Sophomore forward Niveen Rasheed was particularly productive in the second half. Princeton’s top scorer of the night showcased her versatility. She tallied four assists and was a menace on the boards throughout the game, but she let her talents shine with a long string of successful free throws midway through the second half. Overall, Rasheed made seven of her eight free-throw attempts last night and led the team with 14 rebounds and 17 points scored in total.

Junior center Devona Allgood trailed Rasheed with 13 points.

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Layups proved to be Allgood’s forte throughout the game, and the center also kept the ball in the Tigers’ hands with five rebounds.

Micir led the team in three-pointers, missing just one of her seven attempts.

The Blue Hens’ forward Danielle Parker led both Delaware’s offense and defense. Parker made 11 rebounds — three more than her closest competition — and 14 points. Guard Vanessa Kabongo followed Parker, notching 12 points on 14 shots.

Princeton now begins a four-game homestand. The Tigers will play four games before the semester's classes end.

In-state rival Rutgers will face Princeton on Sunday. Then, after a six-day break, the Tigers will play three games in an eight-day period.

The first of those games is against Navy on Dec. 10. Princeton faces a quick turnaround and hosts Navy the following Monday. The homestand ends with a contest against Lafayette on Dec. 17, the last day of classes. The Tigers will play three road games over winter break before returning home in January.