This was the game the Penn women's basketball team has been waiting for all season. With top-notch defense and much improved shooting, the Quakers blew out Temple, 65-29, last night at the Palestra. Dominant almost from the opening tip, Penn never trailed in the contest. The Quakers played as a unit on both ends of the floor. They made key passes and increased their overall shooting percentage. "One of the keys for a successful game tonight was to work to get good shots," senior co-captain Katina Banks said. "We definitely did that. We were effective, using good passes inside and outside. We were patient even when they tried to run and jump or press." The senior-led Quakers were confident. The Owls, on the other hand, are a very young team. Sophomores Rochelle Weaver, Alkanease Garrett and Shememe Williams did not play last year. Last night they made typical rookie mistakes as Penn (2-10 overall, 1-3 Big 5) held Temple (2-11, 0-3) to only 10 points in the first half. "There are certain things you have to do in a game," Temple head coach Charlene Curtis said. "It doesn't matter whether you're a freshman or a senior. You have to box out, which we didn't do." The Owls were led by freshman Claudrena Harold's eight points and five rebounds. Though not a point guard, junior Mickey Wetzel was their floor leader. With a full complement of players, Penn seemed unstoppable. Practice sessions prior to the game had focused on Temple's many defensive strategies. These paid off as the Quakers were able to drive through Owl screens and get through traps before they were even set. "The main difference between [last night] and others is we moved the ball," sophomore guard Erica McCauley said. "We were really seeing the floor well. We did practice that a lot. We were looking for all their different zones. We spent a lot of time breaking it and having different people in rotations so they all knew what to do. Basically we knew what to expect, so we came out and stayed poised -- for once." The Quakers played with a level of intensity they have not shown this year. The Owls, who have suffered through this kind of loss before, seemed to be especially deflated this time. Curtis credited Penn's tough play, which forced her squad into 28 turnovers. "We've gotten our doors blown off quite a few times this year," Curtis said. "This is the first time I felt like we just stopped playing. A lot of that had to do with Penn's defense. I thought they played very aggressive man-to-man. It really took a toll on us in the first half. Even though we came out of the locker room with something in the second half, we made a couple of mistakes, missed a couple of shots and just lost any kind of enthusiasm at that point." While the Owls did make a 5-0 run to start the second half, Penn answered with a streak of their own. The Quakers took advantage of mismatches. The speedy McCauley went up against Temple's sophomore guard Wendi Goods and frustrated her into early foul trouble. Penn also capitalized on Temple mistakes, scoring 20 points after missed opportunities and 30 off Owl turnovers. Though the Quakers changed the lineup, starting Banks and sophomore Deana Lewis at the forward spots, Penn displayed a balanced attack in the contest. The bench also played a larger role in the game. The team responded well to the new arrangement. McCauley scored 12, all from three-point range, to top the Quakers. Behind her, senior co-captain Natasha Rezek had 10 points and five rebounds. Freshman forward Michelle Maldonado scored 10 points in 18 minutes off the bench. She also chipped in five boards and three steals and was a perfect six for six from the free-throw line. "Everyone is ready to do their part," Banks said. "We all came out with increased intensity. It was just something we felt when we stepped on the floor."
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