Princeton University Athletics
Lack Of Second Half Scoring Leaves Princeton With 55-38 Loss
December 03, 1999 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 3, 1999
Box Score
EVANSTON, ILL. - The host Northwestern Wildcats outscored the Tigers 33-15 in the second half en route to a 55-38 victory in the first round of the Roger L. White Invitational at the Welsh-Ryan Center in women's basketball action.
Both teams got off to a slow start with the first point of the game coming on a three-pointer by Jessica Munson (Jr., Norristown, Pa.) at the 15:45 mark of the first period. Back-to-back field goals from behind the arc by Kate Thirolf (Sr., Rockville, Md.) gave the Tigers a 9-0 lead with 13:28 remaining.
After 8:13 expired the host Wildcats hit their first bucket of the game. With Princeton leading 13-4, Northwestern went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to three with 7:11 remaining. A three-pointer by Northwestern's Emily Butler cut the Tiger lead to a single point at 16-15 with 4:55 on the clock. Three points by Allison Cahill (Fr., Uxbridge, Mass.) were all Princeton put on the board on the final two minutes, and a long distance field goal by Wildcat Dana Leonard with under three seconds to play sent the Tigers into the locker room leading 23-22 at halftime. All seven Princeton field goals in the first half came from behind the arc, led by Thirolf with nine points and four rebounds. Lauren Rigney (So., Marlborough, Mass.) also pulled down four boards along with three steals and two assists.
Northwestern's Leonard picked up right where she left off, hitting back-to-back three-pointers to open the second half, giving the Wildcats a 28-25 lead at the 18:21 mark. Northwestern put together a 19-5 run for a 49-30 lead with under four minutes to play. A three-pointer by Hillary Reser (So., Beaverton, Ore.) broke a 9:30 minute scoring drought, but at that point the damage was done, as the Wildcats had built a 50-33 advantage with 2:35 on the clock. Four points by Maureen Lane (Fr., Seattle, Wash.) in the final two minutes left Princeton with the 55-38 loss.
Princeton shot a mere 22% from the floor for the game, including a 5 of 30 performance in the second half. The struggles at the line continued for the Tigers, as they hit only six of 14 attempts. On the flip side, Northwestern shot over 50% in the second half, including 5 for 9 from long range.
The Tigers were led in scoring by Thirolf and Reser, each with nine points. Thirolf and Rigney each had five rebounds.
Princeton will return to action tomorrow, December 4, as they face New Hampshire in the consolation game of the Roger L. White Invitational. Action begins at 5 p.m.