Princeton University Athletics
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Miller's Clutch Plays Help Princeton Edge Hofstra
December 29, 2011 | Women's Basketball
The least important part of any of Princeton's first 12 women's basketball games was the part that came after the last media timeout.
Drama? Down-to-the-final-buzzer uncertainty? Edge-of-your-seat nervousness? None of those elements were present to date for the Tigers.
Game 13 more than made up for it.
Princeton, for the first time this season, needed to execute in the final two minutes - and had to do so on the home court of a team that wasn't used to losing. And how did the Tigers react?
Grade it an A+.
Kate Miller drew a pair of charges and knocked down two huge foul shots in the final minute and Princeton held off Hofstra for a 74-69 win at the Mack Sports Complex on Long Island. The loss was Hofstra's first at home this year.
Princeton improved to 9-4 on the year. Hofstra, who has defeated three NCAA tournament teams from a year ago, is now 9-3.
"We needed a close game," said Princeton head coach Courtney Banghart. "We weren't going to let that one get away."
Of Princeton's first 12 games, only one was closer than double figures either way, and that one was a nine-point win over Davidson.
This time, Hofstra pulled within three in the final minute, and this came after Niveen Rasheed fouled out after a 14-point, six-rebound, six-steal, five-assist night.
Rasheed was actually one of five Princeton players in double figures, while Hofstra had four players of its own in double figures, including Nicole Capurso, who had a career-high 24 and single-handedly kept her team in the game.
On the other end of the points spectrum was Lauren Polansky, who had the rather amazing stat line of no points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
On this night, though, the biggest plays were turned in by a player who finished with nine points.
Miller drew five charges in the game, including the two in the last minute, both of which came when Princeton was clinging to a three-point lead. Miller also made both ends of a one-and-one with 18 seconds left to make it a two-possession game.
"Five charges, is that some sort of record?" Banghart asked. "Plus she was guarding an All-America. She was underzied, but she was positionally sound and tough."
Princeton led for the final 23:35 of the game and built a lead as big as 14 at 50-36 with 14:13 left, but Hofstra wouldn't go away.
The Pride continued to chip away, and when Rasheed picked up three fouls in 19 seconds, she was out with 2:07 to go. The two foul shots on her fifth foul made it a one-possession game at 71-68.
"We got some nice leadership on the floor," Banghart said. We had people stepping into their roles and beyond them. It was nice to see we turned it into the win. We got contributions from everyone."
Lauren Edwards led the Tigers with 17, while Devona Allgood, Nicole Hung and Meg Bowen had 10 each. Allgood, who had eight rebounds, finished the game with 997 career points.
The game marked the first time that Princeton had won this year while allowing more than 62 points.
Princeton is at Drexel Saturday in a New Year's Eve matinee, with a 2:30 tip-off.