Box Score
In a game of momentum runs, it was the Princeton women's
basketball team that was unable to sustain its early advantage and fell 65-52
to No. 19 UCLA Sunday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, Calif.
The Tigers led the entire first half, opening the game with
an 8-0 run. Princeton saw its advantage as high as 12-4 at 16:03 off a Nicole
Hung layin, before the nationally ranked Bruins worked to claw their way back
into it. UCLA came as close as 12-9 at the 14:32-minute mark, but Princeton
managed to protect its lead.
Triples from Michelle Miller and Blake Dietrick provided the
Tigers with their first double figure lead of the afternoon, 21-11, at 11:33
and Princeton appeared to be in control. However as the first half closed in,
UCLA rode an eight-point rally to cut down Princeton's once double-digit
advantage, 29-28, at 2:16.
Able to cling onto their lead, the Tigers went into the
locker room with a 32-31 advantage.
The Bruins employed a 9-2 run to open the second half,
taking their first lead at 17:22, 33-32.
Down 41-34 at 13:46, Alex Wheatley dumped in a put back to
set up a 7-0 run. Behind their offensive rally, the Tigers tied the game 41-41
off a pair of Mariah Smith free throws at 12:19.
Despite the momentum run, the Tigers were unable to continue
to connect on shots and UCLA capitalized going up 50-41 at 6:39. From that
point forward Princeton was forced to play catch up, but only managed to get as
close as six, 52-46 at 4:32.
Niveen Rasheed scored in double figures for fifth
consecutive game, leading the Tigers with 17 points, including going 5-for-5
from the stripe. She also grabbed seven defensive boards.
Wheatley had a team-high eight rebounds, making six
offensive boards. She also scored six points, made four steals and dished three
assists.
Princeton shot 33.9 percent (19-for-56) to UCLA's 38.7
percent (24-for-62). The Bruins did force 25 Tiger turnovers, which they
converted into 34 points.
The Tigers (3-2) return home to kick off a three-game home
swing, beginning with local rival Rutgers on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.
