Courtesy: Beverly SchaeferPRINCETON, N.J. - For the past two seasons, Brown and Cowher were surnames prominent in Princeton women's basketball box scores as the 2005-06 Tigers finished 21-7 overall and 12-2 in the Ivy League, both school records. For the 2006-07 campaign, head coach Richard Barron has announced the addition of another Brown and Cowher, bringing the incoming freshman class to six.
Lauren Cowher, sister of current sophomore and first-team All-Ivy player Meagan Cowher, and Tani Brown have been accepted to Princeton under the regular-decision process. The sizeable rookie class will help the returning Tigers make up for the contributions of first-team All-Ivy center Becky Brown, who won the Ivy scoring title in her final season, as well as shooting guard Katy O'Brien, a second-team all-league player.
Lauren Cowher was a four-year starter at point guard for the Lady Foxes of Fox Chapel High, scoring 1,185 points in her career, good for third on the school's all-time list, and averaging 15.4 points per game as a senior. Like her sister, the 5-7 Lauren was the Coca-Cola Western Pennsylvania Freshman of the Year, two years after Meagan won the honor in 2000. The two-year team captain and most valuable player was a part of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's sectional "Terrific Ten" and was named second-team All-Western Pennsylvania by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review during her career. She has also seen success outside the high school level as a consistent top finisher at the AAU U.S. Junior Nationals.
"Lauren is an extremely competitive young woman with an exceptional work ethic," says Barron. "She has a great understanding of what it takes to make a team successful and has added insight into our program since her older sister plays here. We're thrilled with Lauren's decision to come be a part of our program because she will bring such tenacity and effort to the court every day."
"After spending the past few years in the Jadwin stands as both a sister and a spectator, I am more anxious than ever to slip into a uniform this fall," says Lauren. "Princeton is a wonderful place and I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to join the women's basketball squad. There is a lot of energy and excitement in the program and I can't wait to get started."
Tani Brown will join the Tigers in the fall of 2006.
Brown comes to Princeton from the Brentwood School in California. Also a 5-7 point guard, Brown averaged 15.1 points per game as a senior, hitting on 42 percent of her field goal attempts and 38 percent from beyond the arc. Brown was a three-time All-Olympic League player and as a junior helped the Eagles to a Southern Section Division IV title and was runner-up at the state level in Division IV.
"Tani is a real winner and a big game player," Barron says. "She had some very dramatic moments in her high school career where she had her best performances in some of the biggest games of the season. In addition, Tani is a very natural floor leader and will make great contributions at the point position. Like the other incoming freshmen and our entire returning team, Tani is unselfish and really understands what it means to put the team first."
"I'm so excited to play under Coach Barron," Brown said. "My main goal is to work hard and be the best teammate I can be. I want to contribute to Princeton women's basketball and have a successful season."
While the regular-decision pair focused on guards, size dominated the four early-decision recruits. Jillian Schurle, Emma Markley, Cheryl Stevens and Elizabeth Pietrzak are all 6-0 or taller. With 11 returning players, the six newcomers gives Princeton a robust roster of 17 players as the Tigers look to defend their Ivy League title.
