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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Rutgers
Players Mentioned
Rutgers Rallies for 60-50 Win in Women's Basketball
December 06, 2009 | Women's Basketball
PRINCETON, N.J. (12/5/09) - The Princeton women's basketball team grabbed a 13-2 lead in its game with Rutgers on Saturday, Dec. 5. The Tigers had three players in double digits and was down by just one at halftime, but couldn't pull off the win as Rutgers posted a 60-50 victory at Jadwin Gym.
"I'm more disappointed for my players, not at my players," head coach Courtney Banghart said. "When your shots aren't falling you work hard to get to the free-throw line and you work hard on the glass. To out rebound Rutgers by 11 with 20 offensive rebounds, and to go to the line 26 times showed it wasn't a lack of toughness. We didn't make enough shots to win, but we will regroup."
Freshman Niveen Rasheed paced the Tigers with a 19-point effort, scoring 11 of her 19 points from the free-throw line. In addition, she had seven rebounds, two assists and team-best four steals. Sophomore Devona Allgood was one rebound shy of a double-double, scoring 14 points and collecting nine rebounds. Junior Addie Micir was also in double digits, with 10 points. The team outrebounded Rutgers 41-30 and had 20 offensive boards.
"I can't say enough about our defensive effort on the interior," Banghart said. "That was the best game I've seen Devona Allgood play and I couldn't be happier for her."
Princeton started the game grabbing an 11-point lead as the Tigers went on a 13-2 run in the first five minutes.
Rutgers scored the next six points to make it a five-point game, 13-8, at 13:59.
A 9-3 Princeton run gave the Tigers a 22-12 lead with 8:29 left in the first half.
The teams exchanged layups in the next minute before Rutgers went on a 14-0 run that gave the Scarlet Knights their first lead of the game, 28-24, with 3:50 to play.
Rutgers then shot 0 for 5 and Princeton was 0 for 3 during the next three minutes. Rasheed finally got one to drop with 24 seconds remaining and followed up with a free throw as the teams went into the locker room with Rutgers up by just one, 28-27.
Rutgers started the second half on a 7-1 run to take a nine-point lead with 16:40 left to play. The Tigers responded with the game's next six points to come within three, 37-34, with 14:01 remaining.
Rutgers held Princeton scoreless for the next three minutes to grab a 10-point lead at 11:37 making it 44-34. The Tigers flipped the script and held Rutgers scoreless while scoring seven to again make it a three-point game, 44-41 with less than eight minutes to play.
A pair of free throws by Rasheed would be the only points the Tigers would pick up in the next 5:22 as Rutgers stretched its lead back up to 10 with 3:28 remaining.
The teams would each score seven points during the remainder of the game, Rutgers scoring all seven from the charity stripe and Princeton getting four points from Allgood and three from Rasheed to end the game in favor of the Scarlet Knights, 60-50.
Brittany Ray had a 20-point night for the Scarlet Knights, scoring nine of her points from the free-throw line. She also had a game-high six steals. Rashidat Junaid added 12 points and she and Chelsey Lee each had seven rebounds. Rutgers shot 40.8 percent as a team and was 81.8 from the free-throw line.
Princeton is now 5-2 on the season, while Rutgers improves to 5-4.
Princeton will make the short trip to Rider on Tuesday, Dec. 8 for a 7 p.m., game.