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Princeton University
Maine
Players Mentioned
Late Free Throws Lift Maine over Princeton Women's Hoops, 69-63
November 19, 2006 | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn -- In a possession-by-possession game Sunday afternoon to wrap up the Subway Classic at the University of Minnesota's Williams Arena, the Maine women's basketball team made more of their final shots than did Princeton, leading to a 69-63 win.
Casey Lockwood led Princeton (1-2) with 21 points and Meagan Cowher had 18 points and 13 rebounds for her first double-double of the season after 18 points Saturday against Minnesota. Maine's (2-1) Bracey Barker also had 21 and Ashley Underwood had 15 as the only Black Bear players in double-figures.
In a free-flowing game by both teams, the statistics were as close as the score. Princeton shot 39.1 percent for the game while Maine hit at a 40.7 percent clip. Maine's 50-35 rebound advantage was lessened by Princeton winning the turnover battle, 21-14.
The game featured 11 ties and 13 lead changes and no team led by more than six, which Maine achieved with only 29 seconds to go in the contest.
Barker scored five key points to bring the Black Bears from a two-point deficit inside of four minutes to play to a four-point lead two minutes later. Meanwhile, Princeton went quiet from Lockwood's basket with 4:03 left that gave the Tigers a 55-53 lead until the 1:18 mark when Lockwood scored again to bring Princeton within 60-57.
The Black Bears used almost the entire shot clock on their next possession and missed, but Ariel Rogers fouled Barker on the offensive rebound to put Barker at the line with 48 seconds left. Barker hit both, and the Tigers were down by five at 65-60.
Caitlin O'Neill's three-pointer got Princeton within 63-60 on the next possession, but back-to-back fouls by the Tigers sandwiched around a Princeton turnover gave Maine four free throws, all of which the Black Bears hit to take a 66-60 lead inside of 30 seconds left.
O'Neill came through again with a three-pointer and Princeton intentionally fouled, but Maine's Abby Greene hit one of two to make it a two-possession game with 15 seconds left. O'Neill had her three-point attempt partially blocked with seven seconds left, and Katie Whittier iced the game with a pair of free throws.
Maine hit four of its first five shots in the opening period to put Princeton behind, 9-4. The Tigers spent much of the first half nibbling away at the lead. After a bucket from Cowher with 12:41 left in the half to bring Princeton within 13-11, the teams combined for only two points, scored by Maine, over the next six minutes.
A bucket from Cowher, who scored 12 in the first half, tied the game at 23-23 with 3:12 and Maine entered the break with only a two-point lead at 28-26.
Princeton tried 11 three-pointers in the first half and hit just one, made by Jessica Berry. Maine cooled to shoot 40.7 percent for the half, while the Tigers were able to keep nearly even on the scoreboard while shooting 35.3 percent in the first 20 minutes. The Black Bears turned the ball over 13 times in the half while Princeton had just six giveaways.
Princeton will be away from competition until Friday when the Tigers travel to Lehigh for a 7 p.m. contest.