Nov. 14, 2011
EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette women's basketball team kicks off its home slate tonight at Kirby Sports Center against defending Ivy League champion Princeton. The Leopards (0-1) are looking to bounce back from a 64-56 loss at Rider in their season opener on Friday, while the visiting Tigers (1-0) aim to keep the ball rolling after a 79-62 win over Saint Joseph's. The action will be broadcast live on the Lafayette Sports Network and GoLeopards.com with Gary Laubach and John Leone on the call.
The Leopards cut a 15-point second-half deficit down to a single basket with 34 seconds remaining but could not overcome host Rider in Friday's season-opening 64-56 loss. Lafayette was led by 10 points from Ashley Springer and eight points and a career-best 14 rebounds from Sarah McGorry. Samantha Jordan added nine for the Lafayette offense, while Danielle Fiacco and Emily Homan each netted eight points down low. The Leopards outrebounded the Broncs, 49-38, including 17 from the offensive glass that led to 12 second-chance points.
Selected to win the Ivy League in the preseason coaches' poll, the two-time defending League champion Princeton Tigers come to Easton with a 1-0 record after downing Saint Joseph's, 79-62, in their season opener on Friday night. Princeton got 18 points from Kate Miller and 17 from Niveen Rasheed in the home win over the Hawks. The Tigers were slotted at No. 4 in the preseason (Nov. 1) CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll.
Princeton holds a 22-17 edge over Lafayette in a series that dates back to Feb. 28, 1973 - the sixth game that the Leopards ever played as a varsity program. With the 40th all-time meeting on the slate tonight, the Tigers are the most frequent non-Patriot League opponent for the Leopards. The series has been revisited in each of the last 34 seasons, dating back to a 67-48 win for the Leopards in Easton on Feb. 19, 1979.
The Leopards return to the court on Saturday, Nov. 19 in the Carrier Dome against host Syracuse. The Orange are currently 1-0 after knocking off visiting Long Beach State, 81-42, on Sunday afternoon. GoLeopards.com will present a live audio broadcast of the contest with Dan Mowdy and Drew Kingsley on the call beginning at 7 p.m.
