Behind three players scoring in double figures and a second half rally, the Princeton women's basketball team opened the 2012-13 campaign with a 69-59 victory over St. Joseph's Sunday in Philadelphia. With the win, the Tigers extend their regular season winning streak to 18, a streak established on Dec. 19, 2011.

Niveen Rasheed led the Tigers in the season opener, tallying 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals over 35 minutes of work. Nicole Hung made her first start since Dec. 9, 2011 and followed going 4-for-7 from the field for 12 points. Rounding out Princeton's top scorers was freshman Michelle Miller, who saw 18 minutes off the bench in her collegiate debut and had 10 points.

The first half saw a back-and-forth battle between both sides, until the Tigers attempted to breakaway from the Hawks. At 6:01, Miller sent in a three-pointer to make it a 25-21 game. Princeton managed to expand its advantage to 30-24 as the first half nearly expired, but St. Joe's countered with a six-point run over the final 1:42 to send both teams into halftime tied up, 30-30.

Princeton opened the second half with a key surge and rallied back with a 10-3 run. From that point forward the Tigers remained in control and held off the Hawks to open the year on a winning note.

Both freshmen Amanda Berntsen and Alex Wheatley also made their career debuts in the contest. Wheatley was Princeton's fourth-leading scorer, going a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line en route to scoring nine points.

Princeton forced 19 Hawk turnovers, converting them into 18 points. The Tigers also held a 44-35 differential in rebounds, tallying 22-second chance points.

The Tigers (1-0) remain on the road, traveling next to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. to face Marist at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17. The team's home opener at Jadwin Gym will be hosted three days later on Tuesday, Nov. 20 versus Rider at 7 p.m.