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Princeton Stays Perfect With 68-51 Win Over Marist
November 22, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Laura Johnson Postgame Interview
Courtney Banghart stood in the narrow corridor outside her Princeton women's basketball team room and smiled ear-to-ear.
About 54 hours earlier, she stood on the exact same spot, this time with a nervous grin, as she uttered to herself - or perhaps nobody - the words "it'd be great to get one of these two."
Hey coach, if getting one would be great, then what about getting both? And in convincing fashion each time.
For the second time in three days, Princeton broke open a close game against a team on the cusp of the national Top 25 with a dominant second half, this time defeating Marist 68-51 in front of 735 at Jadwin Gym Monday night. The win was similar to the one Saturay against Villanova, when the Tigers sprinted away in the second half for a 15-point win in that one.
Three days. Two opponents who were in the "others receiving votes" category. Two wins. By a combined 32 points.
The win left Princeton at 4-0 on the young season, while Marist fell to 1-2 after losing to Villanova and defeating Yale. Marist has won six straight MAAC titles and was 31-3 a year ago while reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Princeton will host Davidson Friday at 1.
"This was a weekend we'd been looking forward to," said Princeton senior Laura Johnson, who hit three huge second-half three-pointers and finished with 13 points, all after intermission. "To beat Villanova and Marist at home, we're so excited to come out with two wins."
Princeton had a 32-30 lead at the half against Marist after leading by three at the half against Villanova. Again, the second half was all Tigers.
And while Niveen Rasheed finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and three steals, this game was really about Princeton's three point guards. In addition to Johnson, Lauren Polansky had a career-high 12 points (not to mention six rebounds, three asssits, two steals and a block), while freshman Blake Dietrick scored four points and hit a big three-pointer of her own.
That would be a total of 29 points from the three, who came into the game having combined for 26 in the first three games combined.
"That says a lot about our bench," said Johnson. "Anyone can come off our bench and be a spark for us. A senior like me. A freshman like Blake."
The game was tied 38-38 before Johnson's first three-pointer put the Tigers on top for good with 13:06 to go. Dietrick then doubled the lead with her three, which came a minute later.
Johnson eventually pushed the game to double digits with her second three, which came with 7:38 to go. Marist would get as close as seven before Rasheed hit a three-pointer with 3:37 left to make it 60-50.
"I thought they had a good game plan," said Banghart. "And I thought we did a good job of not settling for what they gave us. We did what we wanted to do instead. That's a very good team, and that's a great win for us."
Marist made 6 of 11 three-pointers in the first half but only 2 of 10 in the second. Princeton shot 10 for 28 on threes, forced 20 turnovers and outrebounded Marist 42-28.