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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Lafayette
Players Mentioned
Despite Cowher's 32, Women's Hoops Falls to Lafayette 78-68
November 24, 2007 | Women's Basketball
PRINCETON -- Meagan Cowher scored a season-high 32 points, her most in nearly a year, but she and her Princeton women's basketball teammates suffered a 78-68 loss to an unrelenting Lafayette squad Saturday afternoon at Jadwin Gym.
"They're a half-court team," Princeton head coach Courtney Banghart said of the Leopards (2-3). "We weren't able to get in transition. Our offense was stagnant."
The Tigers (1-5) were outshot 47.1 percent to 40.6 percent as four Leopards finished with double-figure points and two Lafayette players, led by Vanessa Van De Venter with 19 points and 10 rebounds, had double-doubles.
Cowher's 32 points are her most since she scored 35 against Cornell on Jan. 13. The only other time she reached as many as 32 was in her sophomore season against Columbia. The big afternoon gives Cowher 1,260 points as she closes in on seventh place on the all-time scoring list at 1,275, held by Ellen Tomasiewicz '82.
"Meg is going to do whatever we need her to do all year," Banghart said. "But we can't force Meg to get 32 points, 13 rebounds and lead our team in steals (with four). We need better guard play."
Cowher's double-double was her second in as many games and 16th of her career. She was the only Tiger in double-figure points until Caitlin O'Neill added a bucket in the closing seconds to give her 10 points.
Neither team was able to gain control early in the first half. The game's first 10 minutes saw seven lead changes as the teams traded baskets. Neither team led by more than four until Lafayette went on a 5-0 over two minutes late in the second half to take a 31-26 lead. Though an O'Neill three-pointer cut it to two with 55 seconds left, Lafayette's Jessica Spicer, who had 13 points, quickly answered with her own three-pointer to help the Leopards take a five-point lead into the break.
Lafayette scored the second half's first five points and Princeton wasn't able to put together a run for much of the period. The Leopards led by as much as 16 at 57-41 with 11:25 to play. By the time Princeton began cutting the deficit significantly, it was too late. Princeton trailed by four at 68-64 with 1:07 to play, but Lafayette hit eight straight free throws and the Tigers went without a field goal until Cowher's last basket with 11 seconds to play made it a 10-point game.
The Tigers will look for the season's second win Thursday at 7 p.m. St. Francis (N.Y.). Coincidentally, the Terriers (2-2) will travel to Lafayette Tuesday before hosting Princeton.