Princeton University Athletics
Women's Open Crew Falls to Brown in Tough Season Opener
March 31, 2001 | Women's Rowing - Open
March 31, 2001
PRINCETON, N.J. - The Women's Open Crew started its season with a close 2.8-second loss to defending national champion Brown and a victory over Ohio State. The Princeton crew was composed of coxswain Courtney Biesecker, stroke Sasha Suda, Chrissy Lavdovsky, Andreanne Morin, Megan Higgins, Aniece Gerrard, Kate Phillips, Christy Laakmann, and bow Lia Pernell.
Princeton (1-1) had a good, clean start and opened a slim three-seat lead as it settled to a base cadence around 36 strokes per minute. Brown pulled even as the two crews crossed the 500-meter mark, and used a very strong second 500 to take a one-length lead by the 1000-meter mark. Ohio State fell out of contention during the second 500. Princeton worked hard during the third 500 to pull within 8 seats, but the Bears' sprint was just as fast as the Tigers'. Brown (6:23.9) finished seven seats ahead of Princeton (6:26.66). Ohio State clocked in at 6:39.69 after completion of the 2000-meter course on Lake Carnegie. Head Coach Lori Dauphiny was disappointed to fall to Brown but excited by the program's overall strong performance. In the second varsity race, Princeton and Brown were very close off the start as both crews pulled away from Ohio State. Brown began to push ahead of Princeton at the 500-meter mark - where the two schools again pulled away from Ohio State - and continued to extend its lead to nearly a length through the 1000-meter mark. Princeton continued fighting and chipped away at the Brown lead, culminating with a strong sprint to pull within a few seats. Princeton ultimately ran out of racecourse and finished 0.5 seconds behind the Bears, crossing in 6:40.0.
The first novice eight had a good start and was in a solid position after the first 500 meters, trailing the Bruno by a deck. Brown then began to extend its lead into the second 500, and continued to do so through the finish. Brown's final margin of victory of 5.8 seconds was just over 1.5 lengths. Considering the tumultuous past week, a key injury, and recent lineup changes, Dauphiny and novice coach Andrea Thies were pleased with the novice racing (7:00.3) and expect strong showings in the future.
Princeton's third varsity A and B fours were both victorious in their races. The A-four (7:31.2) defeated Ohio State by a second and Brown by 4.5 seconds. The B-four defeated Ohio State by ten seconds.
Princeton's second novice eight fell to Brown by eight seconds.
The Tigers will race at Rutgers against the Scarlet Knights and will be joined by Columbia in more 3-boat racing Saturday, April 7.
Results
First Varsity Brown 6:23.9 Princeton 6:26.66 Ohio State 6:39.69
Second Varsity Brown 6:39.5 Princeton 6:40.0 Ohio State 6:50.49
First Novice Brown 6:54.5 Princeton 7:00.31 Ohio State 7:19.57
Varsity 4 Princeton - A 7:31.2 Ohio State - A 7:32.1 Brown 7:35.66
Varsity 4 - B Princeton - B 7:46.2 Princeton - C 7:51.8 Ohio State - B 7:56.46
Second Novice Brown 7:09.1 Princeton 7:17.12