.png&width=24&type=webp)
Princeton University
Brown
Players Mentioned
No. 16 Women's Basketball Improves to 22-0 With 86-58 Victory Over Brown
February 14, 2015 | Women's Basketball
BOX SCORE
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Setting a new program record for consecutive victories, the No. 16 Princeton University women's basketball team rolled to an 86-58 win over Brown University at the Pizzitola Sports Center.
Improving to 14-1 against Brown under eight-year head coach Courtney Banghart, the Tigers extended their Ivy League record start to 22-0. Princeton's 22 straight wins eclipse the program's previous record of 21 consecutive victories set during the 2009-10 season. Recording her 160th career win, Banghart is just three victories shy of tying Joan Kowalik (163) for the most wins in Princeton women's basketball history.
For the second time this season, six different Tigers scored in double figures. Blake Dietrick led all scorers with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Annie Tarakchian posted her sixth double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Amanda Berntsen and Michelle Miller each had 12 points, while combining for eight rebounds. Mariah Smith had a career-high 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, while Alex Wheatley scored 11.
Down 8-6 early, Princeton held Brown scoreless for nearly three minutes, rattling off an 8-0 run during that span. Dietrick got things going with a triple at 16:22, before a Berntsen layup made it 11-8. Dietrick knifed into the paint for two more inside of the 15-minute mark before a Wheatley free throw stretched the Tiger lead to six.
On top 16-13, the Orange and Black pieced together another run, holding Brown without a point for 4:24. Wheatley and Smith kicked off the spurt with four straight free throws before a Dietrick layup in transition made it 22-13. Running the floor, Smith netted another easy two before a Dietrick bucket coupled with an Annie Tarakchian triple pushed the margin to 16.
Battling back, Brown pared the deficit to 12 on a pair of Jordin Alexander free throws at 6:06. Closing out strong, Princeton outscored the Bears 19-11 over the remainder of the period to build a 20-point margin.
Attacking the basket, the Tigers netted eight of their points in the latter stages of the half from the free throw line. With just 28 ticks remaining, Dietrick capped off the run by converting an old-fashioned three-point play.
Princeton shot a blistering 59.3 percent (16-27) from the floor in the first 20 minutes, which included a 60.0 clip from long distance. Holding a 22-10 scoring edge in the paint, the Tigers accounted for 14 of the frame's 16 fastbreak points, while tallying 17 points off 11 Brown turnovers.
Looking to turn the tide, the Bears opened the second half on a 6-0 run. Needing a basket, Princeton dumped it inside to Wheatley, who spun off her defender before finishing with her right hand. After a Sophie Bikofsky triple on the other end, the Tigers once again looked to Wheatley, who connected down low to make it 55-40.
Still up 15 with 14:48 remaining in regulation, Miller knocked down a jumper from the elbow off a Taylor Williams offensive rebound. Turning Natalie Ball over on Brown's next possession, Berntsen pushed the ball up the floor, finishing with contact before completing the three-point play to up the margin to 63-43.
The Tigers shot 48.3 percent (29-60) from the field and 46.7 percent (7-15) from three. Limiting Brown to 33.3 percent (21-63) shooting, Princeton held the Bears to a paltry 27.8 clip (5-18) from long distance. Blocking a season-high 11 shots, the Tigers helped force 19 Brown turnovers, while holding a 45-32 rebounding edge.
Princeton returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 14 at Yale.