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Princeton University Athletics
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Cowher's 31 Leads Women's Hoops to 79-73 Win over Columbia; Tigers Host Cornell Saturday
January 12, 2007 | Women's Basketball
PRINCETON, N.J. -- One day short of a year ago, Meagan Cowher lit up Columbia for a career-high 32 points. Friday night at Jadwin Gym, she nearly did it again. Cowher's 31 points led Princeton to a come-from-behind 79-73 victory that moved the Princeton women's basketball team to 2-0 in Ivy play.
In Princeton's two Ivy League games, Cowher has 53 points after a 22-point outing against Penn last weekend. She increased her career total to 931 as she seeks to become Princeton's 17th 1,000-point scorer.
“Meg did a great job of going to the rim [in the second half],” Princeton head coach Richard Barron said, speaking to Cowher's spark in aggressiveness from the first half to the second. Cowher had 18 of her 31 after the halftime break.
But for much of the game, Princeton's chances of victory were very much in doubt. Columbia made 6 of 8 from the field over the game's first six and a half minutes to lead 16-11, increasing that lead to as much as 13 at 39-26 with 2:43 before the break.
Princeton went on a 9-0 run to end the half with the last five points coming from Cowher to enter the break down only four at 39-35.
Columbia continued to hold the lead just out of Princeton's reach for the second half's first 13 minutes before three points from Lockwood – on a bucket and one of two free throws on the next possession – tied the game at 60-60 with 7:41 to play. Those three points started a 7-0 Princeton run that gave the Tigers the lead for good, though Columbia made one last run.
Princeton led by as much as 73-63 with 3:22 to play, but the Lions cut it to two on a layup by Danielle Browne with 17 seconds left. Browne led Columbia with 15 points as one of five players in double-figures.
“We were picked first in the Ivy League and we know we're going to get every team's best effort,” Cowher said. “This is a game we needed to have. We can't let up because every team will be up to play us. It taught us a lesson tonight and fortunately we didn't have to lose the game to learn it.”
Columbia's Shasta Henderson fouled Caitlin O'Neill on the next possession, but O'Neill came through and made both from the stripe to make it a two-possession game at 77-73 with 16 seconds left. Two missed three-pointers later by the Lions' Megan Griffith and two free throws from Jessica Berry allowed Princeton to survive.
Casey Lockwood had 16 points on 7 for 9 shooting while Ali Prichard hit double-digits for the third straight game with 11 points.
Princeton will face Cornell Saturday at 7 p.m. at Jadwin Gym. The Big Red were also come-from-behind winners Friday night, 67-58 over Penn.
NOTES
Whitney Downs blocked five shots against Columbia, which is most for any Princeton player in at least the last five seasons. The record for individual blocks in a game is nine by Ellen DeVoe in 1984.
After losing nine straight to Columbia from 2001-05, Princeton has now won four straight against the Lions.
The win was just Princeton's second of the season when being outrebounded. The Tigers now have a 2-8 record when not winning the rebounding battle. Columbia grabbed 41 boards to Princeton's 36.
It was also just Princeton's second win when being behind at halftime. Princeton is 2-7 when behind at the half.
Princeton tied a season-high by shooting 50 percent from the field.
Richard Barron earned his 69th win at Princeton, moving him into sole possession of third place. Pat Walsh (1974-79) is in second with 72 wins.