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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Marist
Players Mentioned
Women's Basketball Closes Out 2015 With Convincing 77-44 Win at Marist
December 30, 2015 | Women's Basketball
BOX SCORE
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Vanessa Smith finished with 15 points and eight rebounds to help lead the Princeton University women's basketball team to a 77-44 victory over Marist.
Putting the brakes on a two-game skid, the Tigers improved to 10-3 on the season and 3-1 all-time against Marist (3-9). Princeton returns to action on Sunday, Jan. 3 against Hampton. Tip-off at Jadwin Gymnasium is set for 2 p.m.
Knotted at 8-8, Amanda Berntsen buried a three-pointer from the right corner before a Taylor Williams layup stretched the Princeton lead to five. Alex Wheatley then hit 1-of-2 from the charity stripe. Michelle Miller followed with a three to make it 17-8.
Putting the brakes on a 9-0 Tiger run, Tori Jarosz ended a four-plus minute scoring drought with a layup at 2:21. Berntsen answered with a pair of free throws before Annie Tarakchian dialed one in from long distance to push the lead back up to 12.
Still up 12 with less than six minutes to play in the second quarter, Princeton ripped off a 9-3 run. Miller got things started with a triple at 5:35. After an Eileen Van Horn layup, Smith sunk a pull-up jumper from the right elbow and scored six of the game's next seven points to give the Tigers their largest lead of the half at 39-21.
Keeping the pressure on, Princeton pieced together a 13-4 run over the first 5:17 of the third quarter. Miller and Smith combined for nine of the Tigers' 13 points during the stretch with Princeton going up 54-29 on a Smith jumper at 4:43.
Connecting on 6-of-10 field goal attempts, Smith was one of three Princeton players in double figures. Miller finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, going 6-of-12 from the floor and 4-of-9 from behind the arc. Wheatley chipped in with 13 points and seven boards.
Shooting 44.8 percent (30-67) from the floor and 33.3 percent (7-21) from three, Princeton held Marist to just 25.0 percent (12-48) shooting, which included a 5-of-26 (19.2 percent) showing from long distance. Outrebounding Marist 54-24, the Tigers held a 21-6 edge in second chance points and outscored the Red Foxes 36-14 in the paint.