Pioneer Women's Basketball Upends Princeton, 71-47
12/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 6, 2003
FAIRFIELD, CT (December 6, 2003) - The Sacred Heart women's basketball team rebounded from a poor first half shooting performance to come away with a 71-47 win over Princeton University Saturday afternoon in Fairfield, CT. The Pioneers, playing before a lively crowd who endured the blizzard like conditions to make the game, improved to 5-1 to start the season, just the second time in the program's history they have gotten out to such a start.
The first half featured some ugly play from both teams with the Pioneers offense as cold as the temperature outside. SHU shot just 28.6%, eight-of-28, from the field and couldn't take advantage of multiple Tiger mistakes. Princeton turned the ball over seven times before taking their first shot to start the game. The Tigers turned the ball over a total of 17 times in the half but because of an anemic Sacred Heart offense, trailed by just six, 27-21 at the half.
Sophomore Nicolle Rubino (Port Jefferson Station, NY), who has been mired in a four-game shooting slump, provided the only bright spot in the first half of play. Rubino had 12 points on four-of-seven shooting, including a three and a lay-up on the break to give SHU an 11-0 lead four minutes into play.
The Pioneers finally woke from their wintery slumber in the second half, shooting 17-of-26 (65.4%) and 10-of-12 (83.3%) from the free throw line to put the Tigers away, 71-47. Princeton mirrored the Sacred Heart first half, shooting an identical 28.6% on eight-of-28 shooting.
Rubino had more of the same for Princeton in the second half, finishing with a career-high 23 points with three rebounds, three steals and two assists. Freshman Mary Rush (Waterbury, CT) was the only other Pioneer in double digits with 10 points on an almost perfect shooting day, three-of-three from the field and four-of-five from the line.
Senior Kate Maher (Waterford, Ireland) and freshman Jasmine Walker (Amityville, NY) turned in solid games in the middle with seven points and five rebound apiece. Freshman Amanda Pape (Stamford, CT) finished with six points, three rebounds, three steals and an assist in the win.
For Princeton, now 1-4 on the season, sophomore Rebecca Brown scored 15 points too lead all Tigers while grabbing six rebounds. Maureen McCracken finished with seven points, six rebounds and a block in the loss.
The Pioneers will return to action next Saturday, December 13th when they open the Northeast Conference portion of their schedule with a trip to Wagner College.
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