Princeton University Athletics
Princeton Wins First Union Classic
August 18, 1999 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 30, 1998
- Game Notes
PHILADELPHIA, P.A. - Two days ago the men's hockey team captured the title at the Mariucci Classic in Minnesota. Tonight in Philadelphia, the women's basketball team brought home a championship of their own. In the final game of the 1998 First Union Classic at LaSalle University, Princeton defeated Valparaiso 63-57.
The crowd at Tom Gola Arena saw the Tigers jump out to an early 10-5 lead, but three consecutive Crusader field goals gave Valpo their first lead at 12-10. Both teams traded baskets and with the Crusaders leading 16-15 with 10:23 to play in the opening period, Princeton went on a 13-0 run to build a 12-point lead at 28-16 with less than two minutes to play in the half.
Kate Thirolf (Jr., Rockville, Md.) connected on a driving lay-up with 21 seconds on the clock to give the Tigers a 33-23 lead going into the break.
Sloppy play in the opening minutes allowed Valparaiso to cut into Princeton's lead after intermission. Nine minutes into the second half, all-tournament selection Sarrah Stricklett hit a lay-up to knot the score at 43 each.
Thirolf responded and hit her third three-pointer of the game to give Princeton a lead they would not lose the remainder of the game. Valpo did not give up and cut the Tigers' lead to one point on four occasions in the final nine minutes.
Inspired play by Julie Angell (Sr., Plymouth, Mich.) helped Princeton keep control of the game, making three steals and hitting a critical three-pointer in the final three minutes. Maggie Langlas (Jr., Missoula, Mont.) knocked down a pair of free throws with four seconds remaining for the six point win, 63-57.
Langlas was named tournament MVP, leading the Tigers with 16 points and nine rebounds. Thirolf and Angell each chipped in 14 points. Along with collecting five steals, Angell took home all-tournament honors.
Princeton is now 5-7 on the year and will open Ivy League competition on Monday, Jan. 4, at Pennsylvania. Game time is set for 7:00 pm.
12/30/98 - LaSalle Tournament Finals
The site Tom Gola Arena, Philadelphia, Pa., First Union Classic The date Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998, 8:00 p.m. The records Princeton: 4-7 Valpo: 5-6 The coaches Princeton: Liz Feeley?(fourth season, 47-47) Valpo: Keith Freeman (fifth season, 73-51) The series First Meeting Last meeting First Meeting The storyline The Tigers are looking to take home the First Union Classic Championship
Probable Starters
VALPO 43 Sarrah Stricklett 10.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg Jr., 6-1, Valparaiso, Ind. 20 Jill Campbell 5.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg Jr., 6-0, Chesterton, Ind. 51 Carie Wickham 5.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg Jr., 6-1, Avon, Ind. 40 Sarah Lenschow 6.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg Jr., 6-1, Eureka, Ill. 33 Megan Newcomer 8.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg Jr., 5-9, Nappanee, Ind.Today's Note of the DayBPRINCETON 35 Kate Thirolf 9.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg Jr., 5-10, Rockville, Md. 42 Julie Angell 8.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg Sr., 6-1, Plymouth, Mich. 22 Lea Ann Drohan 4.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg Sr., 6-0, Ballston Lake, N.Y. 14 Maggie Langlas 12.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg Jr., 5-10, Missoula, Mont. 11 Jessica Munson 5.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg So., 5-8, Norristown, Pa.
- December Maddness - This will be the first time Princeton has played in the championship game of an in-season tournament since they faced St. Bonaventure in the final game of the Princeton Invitational during the 1995-96 season. The last tournament championship game on the road for the Tigers came against Siena in the Dial Classic in Minneapolis, Minn. during the same season. Princeton went on to win both of those tournaments.
- Holiday tournament time, baby - This will be the second holiday
tournament
for the Tigers this season. Princeton took third place in the 1998
Hawkeye Classic at Iowa over the Thanksgiving weekend. This will be the
Tigers last competition before opening Ivy League play at Pennsylvania on
Jan. 4th.
- Center of Attention - Princeton center Lea Ann Drohan leads the team
with
14 blocks on the season. As a team, Valparaiso has tallied 10 rejections
in ten games this year.
- Homecoming queen - Sophomore guard Jessica Munson returns home this
week
for two games at the First Union Classic. A native of Norristown, Pa.,
Munson earned nine varsity letters at Norristown High School (four in
basketball, two each in field hockey and cross country and one in
lacrosse).
- Unlucky highway - The Tigers are 3-6 on their current road trip. On
the
road this year, Princeton is averaging 52.1 points while giving up just
under 60 points per contest. Valparaiso is 2-0 on a neutral site including
last night's 85-70 win over Arkansas State.
- Gotta have the board - In its seven losses this season, Princeton was outrebounded by nearly 11 rebounds per game. In Monday's win over Dayton, the Tigers held a 37-31 advantage on the boards. Princeton is 3-1 when it outrebounds its opponent. The Tigers are 0-6 when the opposition has the advantage on the boards.
- Bombs Away - In the win over Dayton, Kate Thirolf moved into fourth
place
all-time in career three-pointers attempted with 317. She passed Laura
Leacy who tallied 304 from 1990-94.
- Bombs Away II - Maggie Langlas leads the Tigers in three-pointers made
with
22 and has 92 treys for her career, giving her fourth place all-time in
career three-pointers made. Her five three-pointers in the win over
LaSalle surpassed Andrea Razi '96 who graduated with 87 total long
distance shots. Langlas is one trey away from tying current teammate Kate
Thirolf who stands with 93 in her career.
- I'm honored - Princeton's Ivy honor roll athlete for last week was
Maggie
Langlas who scored 19 points (16 in the first half) and tallied four
steals and four rebounds at Xavier. Langlas currently leads the Tigers in
scoring, chipping in 11.5 per contest.
- P.T. for L.R. - Forward Lauren Rigney is the only freshman to have
played
in all eleven games this season and is averging 15 minutes per contest.
She scored a career-high 11 points at Rider and got her first collegiate
start against Dayton.
- Stop thief! - Maggie Langlas had 22 steals in 12 non-Ivy games last year. She has 30 swipes already this year in 11 games out of league competition.