In the last 12 months, Princeton has dealt Radcliffe a lot of frustration in Eastern crew action. It all started at last year's Sprints when the women from Old Nassau thumped the first 'Cliffe eight to snatch away 1972 Sprint laurels.

Then this year, in the third race of the season, Princeton hung a one-second loss on the 'Cliffe down at Princeton, to knock the 'Cliffe out of the unbeaten ranks and insure the season's only perfect record in Eastern rowing.

Sunday, Princeton reaps the advantage of that important win over Radcliffe, entering the Women's Sprints Regatta on the Charles River Basin as the number one seed. Radcliffe, a squad which has come on strong in the last two weeks, is seeded second, followed by Connecticut and Williams at three and four respectively.

The number two seed could work to Radcliffe's advantage though, as Princeton must face Conn College in the morning preliminaries, while Radcliffe's toughest foe will be the Williams eight that finished a distant third to the 'Cliffe last weekend.

Any way you look at it, Princeton is the team to beat. The Nassau eight has topped all the main contenders in Sunday's field, and has the psychological advantage of being the defending Sprint champ.

Radcliffe coach John Baker has shuffled his line up once again in preparation for Sunday's race, with the major change sending veteran rower Charlotte Crane to the stroke seat and moving Ginny Smith, who stroked all five races this year, to two.

The new seating arrangement will have Anne Robinson at bow, Smith at two, Connie Cervilla at three, Kathy Sullivan at four, Jenny Getsinger at five, Lillian Hunt at six, Allison Hill at seven and Crane at stroke. Nancy Hadley will cox.

"The race will go to the crew that wants it most," Baker said yesterday. "A lot of people want to win this one, and I think three of the teams have a real shot: Radcliffe, Princeton, and Conn College."

Although the 'Cliffe eight didn't gather in the number one seed, the Radcliffe fours entry will be the top ranked boat Sunday. Princeton is ranked second. The 'Cliffe quartet also has been realigned since last Sunday's triumph over Williams. Baker has moved Judy Levine to bow, with Kathy Barbash at two, Debbie Harrington at three and Dottie Kent at stroke. Sally Parker will cox the four.

There will be ten eights and ten fours in Sunday's Regatta. In each category there will be two preliminary heats of five, with the top three finishers advancing to the finals. The last two finishers will row in a consolation ("petite") final. Preliminaries will run from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sunday with the finals going off from 12 noon to 1 p.m.