WILD RIDE: Princeton University women’s basketball star Niveen Rasheed battles past a foe in action this winter. Last Saturday, the junior star and Ivy Player of the Year produced 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists in a losing cause as ninth-seeded Princeton fell 67-64 to eighth-seeded Kansas State in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Bridgeport, Conn. The contest featured six lead changes and eight ties before the Tigers succumbed. The loss to the Wildcats left Princeton with a final overall record of 24-5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

As Princeton University women’s basketball head coach Courtney Banghart broke down her squad’s matchup against Kansas State in the first round of the NCAA tournament, she had the sense that the game was destined to be a nailbiter.

“I figured that was a game where neither team was going to pull away; both teams grind it out,” said Banghart, whose team came into the game ranked No. 24 in the latest national poll.

That analysis was certainly borne out when the teams met last Saturday at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. The contest featured six lead changes and eight ties before eighth-seeded Kansas State pulled out a 67-64 squeaker over the ninth-seeded Tigers.

“It was a game of small runs,” lamented Banghart, whose team ended the winter with an overall record of 24-5 and 14-0 Ivy League. “Unfortunately they had their last small run at the end of the game.”

Kansas State started the game with a 5-0 run but the Tigers were undeterred despite having fallen behind early the last two years in the NCAA tournament on the way to lopsided losses.

“It was a confident team all week and it was a confident team on the day of the game,” asserted Banghart. “I told them it didn’t matter how we started, it was going to be a 40-minute game between two good teams.”

The trio of All-Ivy performers, junior Niveen Rasheed and seniors Devona Allgood and Lauren Edwards, weren’t about to let the Tigers get routed this time.

Each produced some dazzling play to bring Princeton to within 31-27 at half and keep the Tigers in the game until the final buzzer.

“I thought our stars played better than their stars but that their role players played better than ours,” said Banghart, who got 20 points, nine rebounds, and six assists from Ivy Player of the Year Rasheed with Allgood chipping in 15 points and 12 rebounds and Edwards adding 15 points.

The Tigers, though, couldn’t contain one of the Wildcat role players, senior Branshea Brown, who scored 22 points and had seven rebounds.

“Brown had career high of 13 points as a sophomore; she was the role player who made a difference,” said Banghart, referring to Brown, who is averaging 5.6 points a game this season.

“We talked about making adjustments but they had her in at the same time as [Jalana] Childs and we didn’t want to take a big off Childs.”

The Tigers got off to a big start in the second half, going on a 12-4 run to take a 39-35 lead. The Wildcats battled back to regain the lead and built a 53-45 cushion with 8:17 remaining. Princeton, though, didn’t fold, reeling off seven unanswered points to get within a point with 6:53 left in the contest. The Tigers couldn’t get over the hump, never regaining the lead on the way to the three-point setback.

“I liked the way we executed in transition; we were keeping with it,” said Banghart, reflecting on her team’s second half effort.

“I told the kids before the game to do what we do and be who we are and don’t get lost in the moment. We showed discipline on defense and in the looks we generated on offense.”

In the final analysis, the Tigers couldn’t generate the clutch plays when they needed them down the stretch against Kansas State, which went on to lose 72-26 to top-seeded Connecticut last Monday in the second round.

“It was a game of possessions; we are kicking ourselves over some possessions we would like to have back,” said Banghart. “There were a few plays that made the difference, they made some shots at the end.”

The tears flowed in the locker room afterward as Banghart addressed her players.

“I think what I liked most about this year’s team is they held themselves to their own standards, no matter what the scoreboard said; they were strong, alone, and fearless,” said Banghart.

“I thanked the team afterward for caring to care. They cared out loud; we didn’t hide our goals. We signed on for this so that is why there is so much heartache afterward.”

While the ending was unhappy, the Tigers showed plenty of heart over the winter as they won their third straight Ivy crown.

“We were able to grow together after the Navy loss,” added Banghart. “We competed well against Top 25 teams. They weren’t happy when we beat Brown by double figures but knew we didn’t play our best. They celebrated each other.”

The squad’s trio of seniors, Allgood, Edwards, and reserve guard Laura Johnson, are a group to celebrate.

“I feel like I grew up with them,” asserted Banghart, reflecting on her seniors, who helped Princeton go 41-1 in Ivy play the last three years as the Tigers posted an overall record of 74-13 in that stretch.

“You look upon certain years as highs and I think they will feel that way when they look back on our time together.”

In Banghart’s view, the program is well placed to keep growing. “It all ended too soon; we hoped we could skip the step of competing well before getting that first NCAA win,” said Banghart.

“It falls on the next group to take that step. If we are building a program the right way, it is someone else’s turn to carry on. We start up again in a few weeks.”