Princeton University Athletics
Penn Edges Princeton in Regular Season Finale
August 18, 1999 | Women's Basketball
March 3, 1999
PRINCETON, N.J. - Princeton's hope of an NCAA tournament appearance will have to wait until Saturday as it ended the regular season in a 71-65 loss to Pennsylvania (12-14, 8-6) in front of a home crowd of over 700. The Tigers will face Dartmouth in a one-game playoff to determine the Ivy League representative in the NCAA tournament. Princeton and Dartmouth are declared co-champions for the 1998-99 season, the first time for the Tigers since 1985.
In the season finale for the two seniors, Julie Angell (Plymouth, Mich.) and Lea Ann Drohan (Ballston Lakes, N.Y.), the Tigers took the game down the wire, but could not hold off the Quaker attack in the final minutes.
Princeton got off to a quick start, reeling off nine straight points before the Quakers got on the board with a lay-up by Jessica Allen at the 15:41 mark. The Tigers led by as many as 10 in the opening stanza, but Penn battled back to tie the game at 21 with 6:52 on the clock.
Half of Penn's dynamic duo, Diana Caramanico hit a lay-up with 29.6 seconds remaining to cut the Tigers' lead to six, 37-31 at the break. Maggie Langlas (Jr., Missoula, Mont.) poured in 14 first half points and two assists.
The Tigers built a 13-point second half lead, but the Quakers refused to roll over. With Princeton leading 60-59, Penn's Erin Ladley nailed a three-pointer from the right corner to give the Quakers' their first lead at 62-60. Langlas tied the game at 62 on a lay-up with 1:19 to play. Another Ladley lay-up and a jumper by Caramanico put Penn ahead 66-62. The Tigers got as close as one on a free throw by Lauren Rigney (Fr., Marlborough, Mass.) with 46 seconds on the clock.
Trailing in the final minute, Princeton was forced to foul. The Quakers hit five of six down the stretch for the six-point win.
Thirteen of Princeton's 24 field goals came from behind the arc, setting a new University record. The previous record of 11 was set during the 1990 season against Dartmouth.
Langlas led the Tigers with 27 points on 10 of 17 shooting, including a 7 of 14 showing from downtown. Drohan chipped in 12 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. Jessica Munson (So., Norristown, Pa.) added 10 points and four assists.
For Penn, the Caramanico-Mandy West connection did it again, combining for 32 points and 16 rebounds. Ladley added 13 points for the Quakers.
The Tigers (16-10, 11-3 Ivy) will return to action on Saturday, March 7, as they battle Dartmouth on the campus of Yale University for a trip to the NCAA tournament.