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Rogers' Double-Double Leads Princeton Women's Hoops over Wagner, 70-52
November 11, 2006 | Women's Basketball
PRINCETON, N.J. -- Junior Ariel Rogers' first career double-double led the Princeton women's basketball team over Wagner, 70-52, Saturday night at Jadwin Gym in the season opener for both teams.
Rogers matched her previous career-high in points, with 16, set last season against Colgate. Her 11 rebounds set a new career standard as Princeton won its season opener for the third time in six seasons under head coach Richard Barron.
Wagner led only early in the first half and never by more than two points as an 11-4 run turned an 8-8 tie into a 19-12 lead with 10:35 to play that the Tigers came close to surrendering early in the second half, but never did.
A layup by sophomore center Julia Berger put Princeton ahead 39-33 with 16 minutes left in the game, but Wagner went on a 6-1 run, capped by two free throws from Chelsey Bunyer, to cut the lead to one at 40-39 with 12:23 left. The lead stood at two just two minutes later when the Tigers took off on an 11-0 run that effectively sealed the game as Princeton held Rider scoreless for four crucial minutes after the midway point of the second half. Senior captain Casey Lockwood had four of the 11 points as Ali Prichard and Rogers also chipped in during the streak.
The Tigers got 13 of their 17 players in the lineup as Jillian Schurle and Elizabeth Pietrzak made their Princeton debuts. Schurle scored seven points and had two rebounds without a foul or a turnover in 12 minutes.
Lockwood and returning First-Team All-Ivy forward Meagan Cowher were also in double-figures with 11 points apiece, and Wagner's Olivia Nagle led all scorers with 24 points.
Princeton had a 46-36 advantage on the glass and outshot Wagner 37.9 percent to 33.3 percent for the contest. Wagner was especially cold in the second half, hitting at a 26.7 clip, enabling the Tigers to pull away. Both teams were guilty in the turnover column as Wagner committed 28 to Princeton's 26. Fouls also helped make the difference, as the Tigers hit 22 of 30 free throws and Wagner went to the line 10 fewer times, hitting 15 of 20.
Princeton was coming off a season that saw it win a school-record 21 overall and 12 Ivy games, including a share of the league title. The Tigers will look to continue their successful start next Saturday and Sunday at a two-game tournament hosted by the University of Minnesota in which Princeton will face the host Golden Gophers at 4 p.m. ET Saturday and either Maine or Middle Tennessee State Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.