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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Lehigh
Tiger Rally Falls Short At Lehigh
January 07, 2003 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2003
Final Stats
Bethlehem, Pa. - Princeton's 19-point second-half rally was five points short in the end as Lehigh held on to defeat the Tigers 66-61 on Tuesday night in Bethlehem, Pa. The Tigers shot 50 percent from the field in the second half but could not overcome 25 turnovers and a 31 percent first half field goal percentage.
Lehigh jumped all over the Tigers in the game's first five minutes and took a 12-0 lead before Princeton found the scoreboard at the 14:45 mark. Neither team would be able to muster a field goal or even a point in the next four minutes of play and when the scoring opened up again it was Lehigh enjoying a 7-0 run to take a 19-3 lead.
Princeton's next field goal came 5:34 after its first with freshman Rebecca Brown hitting both. The Mountain Hawks opened their biggest lead of the half, 29-5, with about seven minutes left in the period. Princeton scored 13 more points to close out the half with Brown scoring four of the Tigers' seven field goals. The halftime score had Lehigh doubling up the Tigers with a 36-18 lead. The Tigers hit their offensive stride in the second half, matching the first-half's point total only eight minutes in. Lehigh, however, was also scoring buckets and when senior Maureen Lane's three went in to give Princeton 38 points, Lehigh had 53 on the scoreboard. The Tigers chipped away at the lead and when Lane knocked down her third three-pointer of the half, Princeton trailed 61-56.
Sophomore Kelly Schaeffer was fouled while shooting a three and after hitting all three free throws, the Tigers trailed 62-59. The Mountain Hawks were tested at the charity stripe the rest of the way out and held on to win by five. Dawn Gorynski led the Brown and White with 18 points, Jana Ransom and Jessica DePalo finished with 14 points apiece for Lehigh.
"We dug ourselves too big a hole in the first half," says Princeton coach Richard Barron. "We had a good effort in the second half, but we needed one more play or one more call to go our way."
Schaeffer scored 13 second-half points and finished with a team-high 20 for Princeton. Brown added 17 points and Lane finished with 13 after scoring 11 points in the second half. The Tigers drop their fifth straight and now posses a 4-9 overall record. Lehigh improves to 3-8 on the season.
Princeton opens the Ivy season at home this Saturday versus Pennsylvania. Game time is slated for 3 p.m. at Jadwin Gym