Princeton University Athletics
Second-half Comeback Falls Short As Women's Basketball Drops Ivy Opener to Penn
January 08, 2000 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2000
Box Score
PRINCETON, N.J. - In a game of runs, Pennsylvania's women's basketball team had the first and the last to hand Princeton a 92-82 loss at Jadwin Gym this afternoon. The Tigers fell behind big in the opening minutes, but fought back to take the game down the wire. Princeton had four players score in double figures, led by freshman Maureen Lane (Seattle, Wash.) with 18 points, including a 5 for 5 performance from the free-throw line. Pennsylvania's Mandy West led all scorers with 30 points.
The Quakers came out red hot, building a 24-4 lead midway through the first half, sparked by four baskets by preseason All-America Diana Caramanico (Jr., Blue Bell, Pa.). The Tigers did not roll over, instead connecting on three field goals from long range to draw within 13 at the 8:58 mark. Penn increased its lead to 18 before Princeton went on a 16-5 run to cut the deficit to single digits at 37-28 with 1:42 on the clock. Allison Cahill (Fr., Uxbridge, Mass.) scored five of her 10 first half points in the final 1:45, and the Tigers trailed 40-32 at the break. The two teams traded baskets during the opening minutes of the second half, and the Quakers built a 14-point lead on two occasions, before the Tigers went on an 18-8 run to make it a two-point game with 7:07 on the clock. Penn's two guns, West and Caramanico answered, each scoring on consecutive baskets for the six-point advantage. A three-point play by Lauren Rigney (So., Marlborough, Mass.) at the 3:28 mark pulled the Tigers to within two at 72-74, but that was as close as they would get.
Trailing in the final minutes, Princeton was forced to foul, and West and Caramanico combined to hit 14 of 16 from the charity stripe in the final two minutes for the 92-82 win.
Princeton was led by a pair of freshman, Lane and Cahill—both setting career highs with 18 and 17 points, respectively. Cahill added four assists, while Lane pulled down five rebounds. Rigney and Brooke Lockwood (Sr., Palatine, Ill.) both scored in double figures for the Tigers. Rigney scored 10 of her 13 points in the second half, and Lockwood added 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
"This game gave us something to build on," head coach Liz Feeley said. "We made some big plays and key stops, but we couldn't get over the hump and tie the game. Penn is a veteran team, and we are relying on freshmen and sophomores."
West led the Quakers with 30 points and seven assists, followed by Caramanico with 28 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots. Penn hit 25 of 29 from the free-throw line and committed a season-low nine turnovers. The Quakers turned 17 Tiger turnovers into 28 points and held a slim 33-32 advantage on the boards.
The 82 points by Princeton was the largest scoring output this season, and the Tigers shot over 45% for only the fourth time this season and the first since they hit 55% against New Hampshire on Dec. 4.
With the loss, the Tigers drop to 2-12 on the season, 0-1 in league play, while Pennsylvania improves to 7-4, 1-0 Ivy. Princeton will take a 16-day break for reading period and first semester exams. The Orange and Black will be back in action on Monday, Jan. 24, as it hosts local-rival Rider in the first game of a doubleheader beginning at 5:30 p.m.