Box Score
On a career night for Kristen Helmstetter and Lauren Polansky, the Princeton women's basketball team won its third consecutive game
in commanding fashion, 84-54, over Hofstra Wednesday evening at Jadwin Gym. The
victory improves the Tigers to 6-2, while dropping the Pride to 1-6.
Junior Helmstetter, who was making her third straight start,
recorded career-highs in both points with 21, including a personal-best four
treys, and assists with seven. The forward also had six defensive boards,
nearly tying a career mark in rebounds.
On the opposite end of the floor, point guard Polansky
continued to shine as the defensive menace she has been throughout her career.
The co-captain grabbed a team-high and career-high 11 rebounds, including nine
defensive boards, in only 21 minutes of work. Polansky was a crux on defense,
preventing the Pride from creating second chance opportunities, while igniting
offensive runs for Princeton. She also had three steals, two assists and a
block.
Hofstra attempted to keep the game in range during the first
half, coming as close as a possession, 15-13 at 9:56. With their lead
diminishing, the Tigers responded with a 19-0 run to take a 34-13 advantage at
2:58. That critical run was enough to put Hofstra out of range for good.
Princeton managed to expand its lead to 45-19 by halftime.
Following the break, the Tigers scurried to a 30-point lead,
57-27, at 15:53. With less than 10 to play, they would see their lead as high
as 35 during three different points.
Senior Niveen Rasheed led the offense with a season-high 23
points, while grabbing nine rebounds. She has scored in double figures in seven
games this season. Off the bench
freshman Alex Wheatley had seven points and six rebounds, and classmate Michelle Miller made five boards and an assist.
Princeton shot 48.4 percent (31-for-64) from the field,
while limiting Hofstra to 29.6 percent (21-for-71). The Tigers also held
differentials in rebounding (49-38) and assists (22-10), and forced the Pride
to commit 18 turnovers, which they converted into 13 points.
For the third time this season, every active player saw
minutes in the game.
The Tigers open a four-game road swing next, beginning with
Delaware on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m.
