Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Rider
Players Mentioned
Princeton Tops Rider 75-55, Looks Ahead To Delaware
November 27, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Lauren Polansky Postgame Interview
On a day when the Princeton women's basketball team had four players in double figures and none was named Niveen Rasheed, the No. 1 truth about this team couldn't be more clear.
Somebody will score.
Everybody will defend.
Princeton, relentless again on the defensive end, held Rider to 38.8% shooting from the field and forced 23 more turnovers to come away with a 75-55 win over the Broncs in front of 604 at Alumni Gym. The win improved Princeton to 6-0 on the year, matching the best start in school history, set in 1974-75 and matched in 1977-78.
Breaking the record wiil not be easy, as Princeton hosts unbeaten Delaware Thursday night at Jadwin Gym. Like Princeton, Delaware was receiving votes - actually more votes than the Tigers - in the AP media poll and ESPN coaches' poll.
"It's really great to come out strong this year," said Princeton guard Lauren Polansky. "We've had some great opponents. Hopefully we can keep it up on Thursday."
For the record, the four players in double figures were Lauren Edwards (14), Devona Allgood (10), Megan Bowen (10) and freshman Blake Dietrick (10), who had her first career double figure game. Dietrick was a perfect 4 for 4 from the field, including 2 for 2 from three-point range.
As for Rasheed, who came into the game averaging exactly 20.0 points per game, she had just six as Rider hounded her every time she touched the ball. So what did she do? She went for five assists while adding three steals and four rebounds.
Polansky didn't score at all, which was fine, considering her five assists and four steals, as well as her usual role of leader of the defensive swarm.
"Today was a team battle," Polansky said. "We are all about team defense. That's kind of the most crucial part of what keeps us going. It's what fuels our offense. Imporant to keep it going that way."
Princeton had its best shooting half of the season in the first half, putting up an 18 for 31 (58.1%) number for the first 20 minutes to build a 43-27 advantage. The Broncs shot 8 for 23 in the first half, though that was 4 for 7 on three-point shots and 4 for 16 on two-point shots.
As has been the case in four of its first six games, Princeton never trailed in this game. The biggest lead of the first half was 22, and the biggest lead in the game would be 25.
Princeton led 50-30 before the Broncs scored eight straight, only to have Laura Johnson end that threat with a three-pointer that built it back to 15.
With this game behind them, the Tigers were free to look ahead to this coming week, when the Tigers host Delaware and the dynamic Elena Delle Donne, who is averaging 30.3 points per game for the 4-0 Blue Hens.
"We're excited for game Thursday," Polansky said. "Hopefully we get a good crowd for that one. They're a great team."
Fans can receive free admission to the Princeton-Delaware game by bringing two non-perishable food items to the ticket window.