PU women sweep Harvard, Dartmouth to open two-game lead
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Few challenges have been bigger for Devona Allgood and the Princeton University women’s basketball team than hosting perennial Ivy League powers Harvard and Dartmouth.
For Allgood, the sophomore center, there is the challenge of matching up with the Crimson’s leading scorer and rebounder, Emma Markley. The Big Green returned 2009 Ivy Player of the Year Brittney Smith and play her alongside post threat Sasha Dosenko.
”I do look forward to this,” Allgood said. “Harvard-Dartmouth is probably the most exciting weekend because of the competition, and even though we know it’s going to be tough games we like the challenge. We really look forward to it.”
For the first time since 2006, and the first time at Jadwin Gym since 1991, the Tigers swept the perennial powers on a weekend.
”They’re two really good teams,” Allgood said. “For us to be able to come out and play hard back to back nights, it shows our toughness and our ability to win and ability to gut it out when we need to and play together. It’s really exciting to see it in action.”
After falling behind, 10-4, early Friday, a late 12-0 run gave the Tigers a lead at halftime on their way to a 73-54 win over Harvard. Allgood helped limit Markley to 14 points and nine rebounds while putting up a double-double of her own with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
”We got Markley in foul trouble through charges and driving in and making her guard us,” said Allgood, who added four blocks. “All in all, it was a team effort just to go out and limit their touches and their points. If they’re really good it’s going to be hard to completely stop them, so we had to go in and do the best we could to limit them.”
Allgood was one of four Tigers in double figures led by Lauren Edwards’ 19. Niveen Rasheed added 15 points, 15 rebounds and five rebounds. Addie Micir had 16 points.
It was Micir who had the hot hand as the Tigers rallied for the second straight night from a slow start. They trailed, 11-3, four minutes into the game before going into halftime tied, 25-25.
”They kept it to a low-scoring game,” Allgood said. “We average more than that. We had to remind ourselves we’re a fast-paced team and we have to score and play hard on defense. That’s who we are. We reminded ourselves of who we are and played like the team we are.”
The Tigers were without an offensive rebound in the first half, but after grabbing their first of the game 17 seconds into the second half, Allgood followed with a three-point play. Princeton never trailed again as they pulled away from the Big Green for a 58-47 win Saturday. Micir finished with 25 points, Edwards added 14 points and the Tigers got a boost from the return of Lauren Polansky, who came off the bench with a game-high five assists and two steals to seal the sweep.
”These two teams have won at least a share of the Ivy title in all but four years since it’s been given out,” said PU head coach Courtney Banghart after her team improved to 17-2 overall, 5-0 in the Ivy League. “The hard part about them is they’re back-to-back. So the fact that we were able to knock them both out one at a time, and they’re very different — it’s a really offensive-minded team the first night and a defensive-minded team the second night — I give all the credit to my kids. They just played hard. It was fun to watch.”
The win, coupled with Columbia’s loss at Yale on Saturday, helped the first-place Tigers open a two-game lead in the Ivy race. Dartmouth, Dartmouth, Yale and Columbia all have two losses apiece. Princeton plays at Columbia on Friday.
”We still have eyes on the prize,” said Allgood, who had nine points and a team-high eight rebounds against Dartmouth. “We still know we have to work hard. This is just one obstacle of many. We still have a long ways to go. We still have to play Harvard-Dartmouth again. We still have several other games we have to compete in, so we still have to work hard.”
Allgood has worked hard to improve since a solid freshman year in which she started 15 games and made the conference’s All-Rookie team. She has started all 19 games this season and has improved her scoring and rebounding averages while continuing to be the Tigers’ top shot blocker. The Harvard-Dartmouth weekend was a chance for her to showcase her improvements against two of the top post players in the league.
”I thought she was the tougher competitor on both nights,” Banghart said. “It’s a lot of growth for that kid. I don’t think last year she would have come back so hard. She’s incredibly improved mostly because of her toughness.
”She’s gotten so much tougher. She’s improved her left hand. She can score from anywhere. She doesn’t back down. If she doesn’t get the ball, she goes and finds a way. She gets pushed around and she pushes back. She doesn’t back down.”
Allgood stepped up her game along with her Tiger teammates as the second half began against Dartmouth. The Tigers caused eight turnovers in the first 12 minutes of the second half, and pulled down nine offensive rebounds, including five in the first four-and-a-half minutes. Now Allgood is ready to go on the road, where life can get a little tougher for the Tigers. Her experience should help the young team.
”I think I’m more familiar with the league this year,” she said. “I know our system a little better. That helps me just go out and relax and play hard, whereas last year I thought about things a lot more. Being able to relax has helped.”
Allgood has provided a more consistent post threat this season at both ends of the floor, and fit in well for a group that continues to mature together.
”I love our team,” Allgood said. “We are so diverse and we can score in so many ways. When we need someone to show up, there’s the three-point shot or there’s an and-1 play or Niveen driving and taking someone one-on-one and getting a three-point play. I love it. We just have threats from all positions. It’s great. It’s a team of great players.”
One that pulled together to pull off what has historically been the toughest challenge in the league. A rare home sweep of Harvard and Dartmouth opens some breathing room early in the Ivy League and shows Devona Allgood and the Tigers aren’t so easy to push around anymore.
”I’m just so proud,” Banghart said. “Back-to-back nights, that’s a good weekend for our kids.”
At halftime, alumni from the Princeton University women’s basketball program were honored. Among the players on hand were several from the 2006 team that earned a share of the Ivy League championship after the last Harvard-Dartmouth sweep.