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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Wake Forest
Players Mentioned
Women's Basketball Powers Past Wake Forest at Cancun Challenge, 72-55
November 28, 2014 | Women's Basketball
BOX SCORE
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
CANCUN CHALLENGE GAME NOTES (PDF)
CANCUN, Mexico – Extending its win streak to five games, the Princeton University women's basketball team opened play at the 2014 Cancun Challenge with a 72-55 victory over Wake Forest University.
Taking down their second ACC foe, the Tigers held the previously unbeaten Demon Deacons (4-1) over 20 points below their scoring average. Connecting on just 34.8 percent (16-of-46) of its shot attempts, Wake Forest committed 24 turnovers against a stingy Princeton defense.
Four different Tigers scored in double figures led by Alex Wheatley, who netted 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting. Annie Tarakchian and Vanessa Smith each had 11 points, with Tarakchian also pulling down a game-high eight rebounds. Hitting 3-of-4 shot attempts and 4-of-5 free throws, Amanda Berntsen finished with 10 points.
Opening the game on a 13-5 run, Princeton built a seven-point margin just under the 12-minute mark. With the Tigers down 2-0 early, Wheatley connected down low before a Blake Dietrick three-pointer from the left wing gave the Orange and Black their first lead. After a Dearica Hamby triple at 15:41, Princeton netted five unanswered, capping off the spurt with a Smith layup.
Battling back, Wake Forest trimmed the deficit to 17-12 on an Amber Campbell trey at 9:28. Dietrick responded with a triple of her own the next time down the floor before a pair of Berntsen free throws staked the Tigers' to their first double-digit margin. Continuing to apply pressure, Tarakchian knocked down a three from the right side before Smith went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe to up the Princeton lead to 26-12.
Putting the brakes on a 2:27 scoring drought and a 9-0 Princeton stretch, Campbell drove the lane for two with seven minutes to play in the first half. Coming right back, the Tigers pieced together a 14-6 run over the next six-plus minutes, taking a 40-20 lead on a layup with less than 40 seconds left in period.
Down by 17 at the intermission, Wake Forest mounted an 11-4 run over the first four minutes of the second to pull within 10 at 44-34. Trailing 56-43 with less than seven minutes to play, Taylor Gordon dialed it in from long distance before a pair of Nicole Floyd free throws suddenly had the Demon Deacons within eight.
Looking to stem the Wake Forest tide, Berntsen drew a foul before going 2-for-2 from the charity stripe. Ducking into the paint, Wheatley connected on consecutive baskets to put the wraps on a 6-0 Princeton run that had the Tigers back up by 14 at 4:23. Ahead 62-49 with less than four minutes to play, Taylor Williams and Smith recorded back-to-back layups to give Princeton a 17-point margin.
Hitting 12 of their 24 field goals (50.0 percent) in the first half, the Tigers were equally efficient over the final 20 minutes, converting 11-of-20 attempts (55.0 percent). Finishing with a 34-23 rebounding edge, Princeton nabbed 10 steals and matched a season-high with six blocks.
The Orange and Black return to action on Friday, Nov. 28 against Montana in the second of three games at the Cancun Challenge.