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Princeton University
Vanderbilt
Players Mentioned
Princeton Gives No. 22/24 Vanderbilt a Run for Its Money, Falls 74-68
November 28, 2010 | Women's Basketball
NASHVILLE (11/28/10) - The Princeton women's basketball team gave No. 22/24 Vanderbilt a game all the way to the end, but it was the Commodores who earned the 74-68 win in the championship game of the Vanderbilt Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 28 at Memorial Gym.
Down by as much as nine, Princeton battled its way back to take the lead midway through the second and continued to answer any scoring runs against the first ranked opponent it has played this season. Down by 10 with less than three minutes to play Princeton made it a three-point game and challenged for the win until the very end.
"We use the month of November to find out who we can be," head coach Courtney Banghart said. "The way the team competes, the way they are willing to get better in practice and they way they are willing to make adjustments in game, has shown to be our foundation. We came here to win two and we made a top-25 team, in its home gym, make really big shots to beat us. So we just keep trying to get better."
Poor shooting put Princeton in an early deficit, down by nine, 14-5 at 12:17. The Tigers shot 2-for-10 up until that point while the Commodores were shooting 6-for-9 and had eight rebounds to Princeton's three.
Sophomore Kate Miller seemed to spark Princeton's defensive effort when she grabbed a steal and went down for a fast-break layup and was fouled for a three-point play to get within six, 14-8.
Following the effort the Tigers started to explode defensively. Junior Laura Johnson got a block, sophomore Lauren Polansky forced a jump ball and senior Krystal Hill grabbed a steal.
With that the Tigers started to chip away at the score. Princeton went on a 10-5 run over the next 4:15, to make it a three-point game, 23-20 with 4:42 to play.
Stephanie Holzer would hit two free throws before Edwards washed away those two points with a layup. Sophomore Niveen Rasheed would hit a jumper with help from sophomore Meg Bowen at 2:27 to make it a one-point game, 25-24.
During the next 2:27 Princeton had a number of chances to take the lead, but shot 0-fo-3. Princeton also didn't allow Vandy to expand on its lead holding it to 0-for-4 shooting.
Holzer would shoot a long ball for two at the buzzer to give the 'Dores a 29-26 lead headed into the locker room.
Hannah Tuomi and Jence Rhoads added to Vanderbilt's lead with buckets to start the second, 33-26. The teams then traded threes, with senior Addie Micir draining both for Princeton. Rasheed would have a three-point play at 16:16 to get Princeton back within four, 39-35.
Two minutes later Princeton remained down by four points before Tiffany Clarke hit a jumper to put the 'Dores ahead by six, 43-47.
Micir sank her third three-pointer of the half and Rasheed followed up with a basket in the paint to put the Tigers back within one, 43-32 with 13 minutes to play, forcing Vanderbilt to call a timeout.
Rasheed would put back a backdoor pass from Miller at 11:59 to give Princeton its first lead of the game, 44-43.
Vanderbilt went on a 10-0 run for the next 2:18 with Tuomi scoring six of those 10 points to make it a 53-44 game.
Princeton held strong and responded with an 11-4 run. Micir would hit her fourth three, and Bowen and Rasheed would each score four points to bring the game back to two, 57-55 with 5:47 to play.
Vanderbilt regained a 10-point lead, 67-57 at 2:57 thanks to a 10-2 run. Princeton never gave up answering with an 8-1 run to make it a three-point game, 68-65 with 1:20 on the clock.
With 40 seconds left, Vanderbilt held the three-point lead, 71-68. A free throw by Rhoads made it a two-possession game with 30 seconds to play.
Getting the rebound on a missed free throw by Rhoads, Princeton ran down the court and desperately tried to get a basket, shooting 0-for-3 in the next 20 seconds. Allgood would foul Holzer with eight ticks on the clock to try to get Princeton the ball back. Holzer made both of her shots but Princeton turned the ball over with four seconds left and the clock ran out.Micir was named to the All-Tournament team for her efforts this weekend. Today she matched her career best with six three-point baskets en route to scoring a season-high 20 points. Rasheed added 15 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Edwards contributed 14 points and six rebounds. The Tigers shot 44.6 percent from the floor, 47.1 percent from long range and missed just one their 11 free throws.
Tuomi scored 16 points and led Vanderbilt under the basket as well with nine boards. Jasmine Lister added 15 points and Tiffany Clarke had 12 along with six rebounds. The team shot 49 percent from the floor, 47.1 from behind the arc and 72.7 from the free-throw line. Vanderbilt improves to 4-1 on the season.
Princeton falls to 3-2 on the season and will take on Delaware on Wednesday, Dec. 2 in the last of a five-game road swing.