Princeton University Athletics
Last Second Effort Falls Short, Princeton Loses to Harvard 47-43
February 25, 2000 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2000
Box Score
PRINCETON, N.J. - A pass with 5.3 seconds goes out of bounds for the Tigers along with a two-game winning streak and a chance to cause a shake-up in the Ivy League title race, as the women's basketball team comes up on the short side of a 47-43 decision to Harvard tonight in Princeton. Hillary Reser (So., Beaverton, Ore.) led the Tigers with 11 points and two steals.
The game was deadlocked at 41-41 following a three-pointer by Reser at the 5:02 mark. After four minutes of scoreless play, Maggie Langlas (Sr., Missoula, Mont.) connected on a driving lay-up with one minute on the clock for a 43-41 lead. Harvard would not be denied, as senior Courtney Egelhoff drained a three-pointer with 36 seconds on the clock--giving the Crimson a one-point lead. On most nights keeping the foul total down would be a good thing. The Tigers had accumulated only two fouls with 19:24 expired in the second half. Princeton used seven seconds to commit five fouls to put Harvard in the bonus. Bree Kelley hit the front end of a one-and-one, but senior co-captain Laela Sturdy grabbed the offensive rebound with 13.5 on the clock. Sturdy missed the first shot, and Princeton came up the floor down by two. Just across halfcourt Kate Thirolf (Sr., Rockville, Md.) fired a bullet to Allison Cahill (Uxbridge, Mass.), but the pass was a little high and beyond reach for the outstretched freshman. Kelley hit both free throws for the four-point Harvard win.
The crowd of 424 saw an exciting game throughout, with six ties and six lead changes. The Crimson came out on fire, hitting its first five attempts from the floor. A cold spell settled in as Harvard made only five of its next 21 tries, but a three-point jumper by Laura Barnard with 43 seconds remaining gave the Crimson a 25-22 lead at halftime.
Behind Reser's 11 points, Thirolf added nine points and nine rebounds. Both Lauren Rigney (So., Marlborough, Mass.) and Langlas had eight points. Langlas also added eight rebounds and three assists. Sturdy paced the Crimson with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Kate Ides added 11 points.
With the loss the Tigers drop to 6-18 on the year, 3-7 in Ivy League play. Harvard improves to 15-7, 8-2 Ivy League. Princeton will play its final home game of the season tomorrow against Dartmouth in the 3rd annual Jam Jadwin Night. Tip off is 7 p.m.