Princeton University Athletics
Princeton Unable to Overcome Early Deficit in 74-59 Loss
January 02, 2000 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 2, 2000
Box Score
PRINCETON, N.J. - Despite outscoring Providence 33-31 in the second half, the Princeton women's basketball team was unable to overcome a first half deficit, falling to the Friars 74-59 in Providence. The Tigers got strong performances from a pair of Massachusetts natives, Lauren Rigney (So., Marlborough) and Allison Cahill (Fr., Uxbridge), each scoring 13 points.
Both teams seemed to find the mark early in the opening period, and the game saw ties at 5-5 and 7-7 before Princeton built a 16-11 lead at the 12:00 mark. The Friars went on a 19-0 run to take a 30-16 lead with five minutes remaining, and a jumper by Jessica Munson (Jr., Norristown, Pa.) broke a seven-minute Tiger scoring drought. Cahill came off the bench to spark the Orange and Black, scoring her team-high eight first half points in the final 2:11 of the opening stanza on a pair of three-pointers and two free throws. Princeton's two leading scorers Maggie Langlas (Sr., Missoula, Mont.) and Kate Thirolf (Sr., Rockville, Md.) saw limited action due to foul trouble, both having two personal fouls midway through the first half. Thirolf had five points and four rebounds before being whistled for her third foul with less than three minutes remaining in the half.
The Tigers seem to have a knack for giving up the long ball in the final seconds, and Providence point guard Dee Cummings hit a prayer from just across half-court as time expired, giving the Friars a 43-26 lead at halftime.
Just 15 seconds into the second half, Thirolf took a seat on the bench after being called for her fourth foul, she would not return into the game. The Friars held a 19 to 23-point lead over the next nine minutes, and a three-pointer by Maureen Lane (Fr., Seattle, Wash.) cut the lead to 18 with 10:28 on the clock. Neither team would dent the scoreboard over the next four minutes, but a pair of shots from behind the arc gave Providence its biggest lead of the game at 67-43 with 5:39 left to play.
With two sophomores and three freshman on the floor for the Tigers, Rigney showed her leadership abilities, scoring 10 of the Tigers' 12 points over the final 2:46. Rigney rounded out the scoring with a pair from the charity stripe for the 74-59 final score.
Rigney's 13 points came one short of her career-high, while Cahill tallied a career-best 13 points and five rebounds. Langlas led the team with seven boards. Although the Tigers hit 11 of 12 from the free-throw line in the second half, they shot only 24% on nine of 38 shooting from the floor. Princeton struggled from long range, connecting on eight of 28 attempts from behind the arc.
With the loss, the Tigers drop to 2-11 on the season, while Providence improves to 6-4. Princeton will be back in action on Saturday, January 8, 2000, as it opens Ivy League play against the preseason favorite Pennsylvania Quakers. Game time is set for 2 p.m.