Dec. 6, 2013

Final Stats

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Princeton connected on 50 percent of its shots from the field in each half to help the Tigers post a 73-57 victory over the Navy women's basketball team Friday night in Alumni Hall.

"I credit Princeton," said Navy head coach Stefanie Pemper. "They shot really, really well, and played well and were really tough defensively."

Princeton (4-4), winners of the last four Ivy league titles, first went on an 11-0 run to take a 15-5 lead on Navy (7-3) eight minutes into the game. After the Mids sliced the margin down to 15-12, the Tigers tallied the ensuing 14 points to take a 29-12 lead with just under five minutes remaining in the half.

That cushion would be 36-20 at intermission as the Tigers shot 50 percent from the field (16-32) and limited the Mids to 30 percent shooting (9-30) from the floor, including a 4 of 15 (26.7%) effort from three-point range, in the first half. Aiding Princeton was it holding advantages over Navy in points scored in the paint (20-4), fastbreak points (10-2) and points scored after turnovers (9-3) during the first 20 minutes of play.

"It got away from us early," said Pemper, "but by no means was it over at the half.

"I wish in the first half we were able to get Jade (Geif) more touches, but I thought the three-point shots we took were good ones. We just weren't hitting."

Princeton would open the second half on a 13-8 run to take a 49-28 lead with just under 13 minutes left on the clock. The lead for the Tigers would grow to as many as 23 points until the Mids chipped away at it down the stretch and eventually cut it down to as few as 14 points.

The Tigers improved their shooting in the second half as they connected on 52 percent (13-25) of their field goal attempts. The Mids shot slightly better after halftime themselves as they sank 36.4 percent (12-33) of their shots from the field.

For the game, Princeton outshot Navy 50.9%-33.3%, held a 42-33 cushion on the glass and made 11 of 11 free throw attempts while the Mids were just 8 of 16 from the foul line. Also hurting the Mids was their 7 of 28 shooting (25%) from three-point range.

"We were missing long shots," said Pemper, "and that means long rebounds and that helps them start their break. Typically we don't score as well when we are not getting stops. Well, we're really not going to score as well when we are giving up shots in transition."

M.L. Morrison (Sr., Southlake, Texas) paced Navy with 11 points, Sarita Condie (Fr., Lovelock, Nev.) scored 10 points and Kara Pollinger (Sr., Fort Gay, W.Va.) recorded 9 points and 4 assists.

Princeton's Michelle Miller led all players in the game with 20 points, while teammate Kristen Helmstetter added 18 points.

Navy will now take a break in its competitive schedule for both final exams and the Christmas holiday. The next time the Mids will take to the court will be Dec. 29 when Navy plays at Marshall. It will be a homecoming game for team captain Pollinger, as well as Navy's final game prior to the start of the Patriot League season.