Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Harvard
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Women's Basketball Team Dumps Harvard
January 11, 2002 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 11, 2002
Box Score
Princeton, N.J. - Allison Cahill calmly knocked down a three-pointer to break a 53-53 tie with two minutes remaining as the Tigers upset visiting Harvard at Jadwin Gym on Friday night. Princeton improved to 2-0 in conference play with a 59-55 victory over the preseason favored Crimson.
Harvard, picked to win the conference by the media, entered tonight's contest with Princeton as the only other school to be 1-0 in the league. The Tigers started quick and built an early lead with three-point shooting. Princeton led 16-13 before Kelly Schaeffer hit a three-pointer to make it 19-13. Maureen Lane then connected on back-to-back three-pointers to extend the lead to 25-16 with 7:26 to play in the first half. Princeton made 47 percent of its shot and took a 33-24 lead into the locker room at halftime. Harvard made a furious comeback and led by as much as six points in the second half. The Tigers found themselves down 53-49 before an 8-0 run gave them a lead they would not relinquish.
"We let them get back into the ballgame, but it was great to see that we didn't give in," says Coach Richard Barron. "Harvard is a very good team and we're happy with the win. There will be no easy wins in the Ivy League and we'll probably be the underdog most nights, but we have to continue to battle and take each game as it comes."
Maureen Lane led the Tigers with 15 points and eight rebounds. Senior Lauren Rigney returned from a one-game hiatus and scored 13-points and dished out seven assists. Rigney missed Tuesday's game against Rider because of back pain, but played 37 minutes for Coach Barron tonight.
Cahill scored 11 points on 4 of 10 shooting while both Schaeffer and freshman Ashley Rook scored nine points for Princeton. Harvard's top two scorers, Hana Peljto and Reka Cserny, led the team once again with 15 and 12 points respectively.
The Tigers built their lead on three-point shooting, but won the game at the free-throw line. Princeton did not attempt a foul shot in the first half of play, but went to the line 16 times in the last 20 minutes, connecting on nine of those attempts. Harvard only shot one free throw in the first half and one free throw in the second.
Princeton, now 8-6 overall is alone at the top of the Ivy standings with victories over defending conference champion Pennsylvania and preseason media favorite Harvard. The Tigers, who finished last in the conference a year ago, were also picked to finish last this season, while Harvard was picked to finish first. Penn was picked to finish second.
The Tigers hope to continue to knock off Ivy foes when they face Dartmouth, which was picked to finish third in that same poll, on Saturday night. Dartmouth is 4-8 overall this season and 0-2 in the league. Tomorrow night's game is a 7 p.m. start at Jadwin Gym.