Dec. 22, 2006

Box Score | Photo Gallery

Pittsburgh, PA - A solid second half performance from visiting Princeton lifted the Tigers to a 62-59 victory over Duquesne Friday night at the A.J. Palumbo Center despite a game-high 16-point effort from senior Loui Hall. Four of DU five starters hit double-figure scoring as sophomore Kristi Little netted 12 points and senior Carmen Bruce and junior Jade Singleton notched 10 points each. Singleton led the game and tied her personal best with nine rebounds in her first collegiate start.

The Tigers were led by Jillian Schurle's 12 points while four others hit nine points, including junior Meagan Cowher who entered the game averaging a team-best 16.2 ppg. It is the first time in the past 18 games that she did not record double-figure points. Cowher paced Princeton with six rebounds.

The Dukes used a 16-3 run to take a 17-10 lead at 10:53 in the first stanza capped by Hall's traditional three-point play. Princeton cut the lead to a 22-19 reach on a three-pointer from Casey Lockwood, but the Red & Blue upped its lead to 37-26 after back-to-back baskets by Bruce. Duquesne took a 39-29 lead into the break.

DU held a 19-10 rebounding edge in the first frame and out-shot the Tigers .516 (16-31) to .462 (12-26) from the field. Meagan Cowher, Princeton's leading scorer, had just two markers in the first frame sitting most of the period with two fouls.

Little's basket at 18:06 gave DU a 43-29 lead - the largest of the game - in the second frame before a 7-0 Tigers' run cut the lead to a 43-36 Dukes' edge at the 16:20 mark. Cowher hit back-to-back buckets to top a 12-6 run to put the visiting Tigers within a 53-50 reach with 9:10 remaining. Singleton hit a jumper at 10:58 for a 55-50 Dukes' lead before a three-pointer by Princeton's Schurle cut the lead to a 55-53 DU advantage as 8:16 remained. Duquesne held at least a two-point lead until Schurle hit both of the one-and-one for a 59-59 game with 3:28 ticking. In the final 3:11 of play, both teams turned the ball over in their own paint and traded missed shots for the next two possessions. Duquesne turned the ball over with 1:19 to go in their own paint, but Princeton failed to convert on the turnover and the Dukes were called for traveling with just under a minute to go. Duquesne put on the pressure, but Cowher hit a jumper with :19 ticking for a 61-59 lead - their first since the beginning of the first half. With :15.4 on the clock, Little drove to the basket and the Dukes called a timeout they did not have, giving Princeton possession and two free throws on the administrative technical with :02.5 remaining. Arie Rogers went to the line hitting one of two shots for a 62-59 Princeton advantage and the final.

The Tigers hit .524 (11-21) the field in the second half ad .489 (.23-47) for the game while Duquesne hit .375 (9-24) in the second frame and .455 (25-55) for the contest. Duquesne out-rebounded the Tigers 33-23, but had 17 turnovers to Princeton's 14.

The loss puts Duquesne at 5-6 overall while Princeton improves to 5-7. The Dukes conclude the year hosting Clemson Dec. 29 at 7:00 pm at the Palumbo Center.

Game Notes: DU was without freshman starter Keri Pryor due to illness ... DU put an end to Meagan Cowher's 17-game double-figure game scoring spree limiting her to nine points ... four of five starters hit double-digit scoring for the Red & Blue.