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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
California
Players Mentioned
Downs Has Career Game in Hard-Fought Loss to No. 3 Cal
December 06, 2008 | Women's Basketball
BERKELEY, CALIF. (12/5/08) ? Princeton senior Whitney Downs led all players with 24 points, a personal best, but it wasn't enough as Princeton fell 75-53 to No. 3 California in game one of the Collier's International Classic at Hass Pavilion. Downs also recorded a team-best six rebounds and grabbed five steals.
“I said before the game to one of my assistants that Whitney will play well," Coach Banghart said after the game. "She plays well in big games. She isn't afraid of anybody.”
Princeton looked impressive on the court, with the seniors putting on a show. Seniors Julia Berger and Jessica Berry also had outstanding games.Berry contributed seven points and team-high six assists, and Berger and sophomore Addie Micir added six points apiece. Princeton shot 50 percent for the game (22-of-44) and 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from long range.
Princeton and Cal both had 25 boards. The Tigers scored 16 of their points off of turnovers and held the Golden Bears to just two second-chance baskets.
“What I'm most pleased about is that we were able to execute on both ends of the court,” Coach Banghart said. “The score shows a 22-point win but we were in that game. Going into the second to last media timeout we were thinking we could win.”
The Tiger defense wasn't giving the Golden Bears any good looks on its first two possessions and Cal drew a foul to send the ball the other way. In the next four minutes, both teams had trouble finding the basket in the opening minutes, with Princeton shooting 0-for-2 and Cal shooting 1-for-5. After the teams traded baskets, the score stood at 8-8 with just under 13 minutes to play.
Cal scored its next five points off of turnovers but Princeton hit its free throws down the line to reach within three at 9:40.
The Golden Bears went on a 7-0 run in the next couple of minutes to take their first double-digit lead of the game, 20-10. Princeton answered right back with five points. Cal went on another 7-0 run to lead 27-15 with just over six minutes to play in the half. The teams would trade baskets for the next few minutes before Cal ended the half with six straight points to take a 39-22 lead in the locker room.
Ashley Walker scored Cal's first four points to start the second half, but Princeton started to find its offensive rhythm and settled in for the remainder. The Tigers chipped away at the score and came within 11 at just seven minutes in, scoring 12 of the next 16 points in the game.
The teams continued to trade baskets, before Cal closed out the game on a 16-7 run to earn the 72-53 win.
Cal had three players in double digits, led by Walker, who scored 23 points and a team-best eight rebounds. Vital and Alexis Gray-Lawson each tallied 12 points with Gray-Lawson recording a double-double with 10 assists. Devanie Hampton added 10 points and had a team-high four steals. For the game the squad shot 54.7 percent (29-of-53) and was 50 percent (9-for-18) from downtown.
Princeton is now 3-3 on the season, while Cal improves to 7-0.
Princeton will play the loser of the St. Louis/TCU tomorrow at 2 p.m., while Cal will take on the winner at 5 p.m.