Defense Pushes Princeton To 64-34 Win Over Rutgers

Friday, November 25

Princeton, N.J.

2:00 p.m.

Princeton University

1-4

Rutgers

0-5

Rutgers

Princeton

Photo by: Beverly Schaefer

Defense Pushes Princeton To 64-34 Win Over Rutgers

November 25, 2016 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PRINCETON, N.J. – Princeton's defense excelled as the Tigers held the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to 11-of-54 shooting (20.4 percent) in a 64-34 victory at Jadwin Gymnasium on Friday afternoon.

Freshman Bella Alarie registered a team-best 14 points and added seven rebounds while junior Tia Weledji dropped in 12 points, matching her personal best. Sophomore Sydney Jordan set new career high with eight rebounds in the win.

Princeton held Rutgers to just two baskets in the first quarter, going ahead 14-5. The Tigers also had eight offensive rebounds, one more than the Rutgers total, and created seven Scarlet Knights turnovers. Rutgers went without a point during a seven-minute span of the frame.

The Tigers continued to expand its advantage to as many as 18 in the second quarter. They allowed four baskets to Rutgers in the stanza and just six in the entire half, holding the road squad to 6-of-24 from the floor (25.0 percent). Head coach Courtney Banghart's team also outrebounded Rutgers, 22-14.

10 straight points out of the break put the Tigers in front by 24. Princeton led by as many as 25 in the quarter as again, the Tigers' defense shined. The Scarlet Knights were 2-of-16 (12.5 percent) in the third. Rutgers did not get within 20 the rest of the contest.

For the second time this season, Princeton outrebounded its opponent, finishing with a 46-39 advantage. The Tigers forced 20 Scarlet Knight turnovers and gave up only three three-pointers. Princeton made a season-high 20 free throws. This was fifth time in program history that the Tigers took down Rutgers.

Princeton wraps up a busy Thanksgiving week at UMBC on Sunday in Baltimore. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. The Tigers have won two of the three matchups all-time vs. the Retrievers, winning the last contest, 56-41, in 2011.