Princeton University Athletics
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No. 25 Princeton Women's Basketball Sets Sights on Another Ivy Title Run
November 06, 2015 | Women's Basketball
WATCH: 2015-16 VIDEO SEASON PREVIEW
SIGHTS & SOUNDS: 2015-16 PRINCETON BASKETBALL MEDIA DAY
PRINCETON, N.J. – Picked to win the Ivy League for a record sixth straight season, the 25th-ranked Princeton University women's basketball team enters the 2015-16 campaign with high expectations and hopes of building on last season's historic run.
The first Ivy program to be ranked in the USA Today preseason coaches poll, the Tigers are coming off a 31-1 year that that included an unblemished 30-0 regular season. Earning the highest-ever Ivy ranking in the Associated Press Top-25 and USA Today polls, Princeton climbed as high as No. 13 in 2014-15 and earned the conference's highest-ever seed (No. 8) in the NCAA Tournament.
Capturing a fifth Ivy title in six seasons, the Tigers defeated Green Bay in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 80-70. Securing its first-ever NCAA victory, Princeton became just the second Ivy program to advance to the second round, joining the 1998 Harvard squad, which upset top-seeded Stanford.
Despite losing four seniors to graduation, including Ivy Player of the Year and honorable mention All-America Blake Dietrick '15, Princeton returns a wealth of talent that includes four starters from last year's record-setting team.
SEASON OUTLOOK
Last year, Princeton finished second in the nation in three-point percentage (40.5), third in field goal percentage (49.1), 12th in assists (16.9), and 19th in scoring (75.8). The Tigers also sat second in the country in field goal percentage defense (34.2), sixth in rebounding margin (+11.2) and points allowed (52.6), and seventh in three-point defense (26.3).
As part of their record-setting campaign, the Tigers set new program benchmarks for points (2,424), scoring average (75.8), field goals made (921), field goal percentage (.491), rebounds (1,338), blocks (143), and assists (541).
With 11 players back in the mix, including four starters, Princeton returns the bulk of its production from last season. While Dietrick will certainly be missed after leading the team in several statistical categories, the returning Tigers accounted for nearly 82 percent of last year's rebounds (1,102), 74 percent of its points (1,779), and 62 percent of its assists (333).
Princeton's returning players also collected 115 of the team's 143 blocks a year ago and 205 of 262 steals. Of the eight Tigers that averaged at least 10 minutes last season, the six that are back in the fold combined to shoot 51.6 percent (617-1195) from the floor and 44.1 percent (120-272) from three-point range.
Opening the season on Nov. 13 against American, the Tigers must once again navigate a grueling non-conference schedule before opening Ivy play against Penn on Jan. 9. Over the course of 2015-16, Princeton will face 11 opponents that earned postseason berths (NCAA, WNIT) a year ago. Of the Tigers' non-conference foes, six finished the past season in the top 50 of the NCAA's final RPI rankings, with eight closing out the year in the top 100.
SENIORS
Headlining the 2015-16 Tigers are seniors Annie Tarakchian, Alex Wheatley, Michelle Miller, Amanda Berntsen, and Taylor Williams, who have helped lead Princeton to a 74-17 (0.813) record and 38-4 (0.905) Ivy League mark during their first three seasons.
One of the team's tri-captains, Tarakchian averaged 10.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Starting 31 of the team's 32 contests, Tarakchian posted a team-high 11 double-doubles. Connecting on 198 of her 410 field goal attempts (0.483), she knocked down 46.9 percent (56-74) of her three-pointers. Topping the Ivy League in three-point percentage, she finished second in the conference in rebounding, and fourth in field goal percentage en route to first-team All-Ivy honors.
Also a first-team All-Ivy honoree, Wheatley averaged 10.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in 2014-15. Scoring in double digits 15 times, she hit 131 of her 233 shot attempts, finishing first in the league with a career-high 56.2 shooting percentage (131-233). Third in the conference in blocks per game (1.4), she has amassed 764 points and 383 rebounds in her first three years. Also one of the team's captains this season, her 55.3 career shooting percentage would currently rank second on the program charts.
One of the Tigers' most prolific scorers, Miller is on pace to become the 23rd member of Princeton's 1,000-point club. Averaging 11.6 points on 44.9 percent (140-312) shooting last season, Miller enters the year with 916 points. Knocking down 46.0 percent (58-126) of her three-pointers a year ago, Miller finished second in the Ivy League in three-point shooting. Her 41.6 career shooting percentage from behind the arc currently ranks second all-time.
Enjoying a breakout season, Berntsen started all 32 of the team's game's last season. Setting career-highs in numerous statistical categories, she averaged 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting an efficient 54.5 percent (78-143) from the floor.
One of the team's tri-captains this season, Williams played an important role for the Tigers off the bench last year, averaging 15.1 minutes per game. Shooting 53.8 percent (64-119) from the field, Williams finished among the league leaders in blocks (30), while also averaging 5.0 points and nearly three rebounds per outing.
JUNIORS
Vanessa Smith, Taylor Brown, and Jackie Reyneke form the Tigers' junior class. In integral part of Princeton's success last season, Smith played in all 32 games, averaging just over 18 minutes per contest. Hitting 57.3 percent (94-164) of her shot attempts, Smith averaged 7.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. During the NCAA Tournament, Smith excelled, averaging 13.0 points and 4.0 boards while hitting 67 percent of her shot attempts (10-15).
Coming off the bench, Brown appeared in 22 of the Tigers' games last season. Working her way back from an injury that sidelined her for much of her sophomore year, Reyneke saw action in five games during the 2014-15 campaign.
UNDERCLASSMEN
Sophomores Leslie Robinson, Tia Weledji, and Kenya Holland all earned playing time at Princeton as rookies. Seeing the most action, Robinson made 26 appearances last year, averaging nearly 10 minutes per game. Scoring a season-high 11 points at Monmouth (12/21), she pulled down a season-best five rebounds four times. Holland and Weledji appeared in 22 and 20 games, respectively.
Rounding out the Tigers' roster are freshmen Caroline Davis, Qalea Ismail, Sydney Jordan, Jordan Muhammad, Claudia Reid, and Gabrielle Rush.
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach Courtney Banghart enters her ninth season on the Princeton sidelines. Named one of Fortune Magazine's 50 Greatest Leaders, Banghart was tabbed the Naismith National Coach of the Year last season, while also taking home Coach of the Year honors from the USBWA, ECAC, and Ivy League.
The winningest coach in Princeton history, Banghart has amassed a 169-67 (0.716) overall record. Against the Ivy League, Banghart has posted a 92-17 (0.844) mark, helping to lead the Tigers to five conference crowns.
Returning to the sidelines are assistant coaches Milena Flores (ninth season) and Megan Griffith (sixth season). A former standout and 2011 graduate of Williams College, Chessie Jackson begins her first season as a member of the Princeton staff. Tyler Cordell returns for her fourth season as the program's director of basketball operations.