Once again, the Penn women's basketball team's road to March Madness goes through the Ivy League.
This year, the most fierce competition will come from Harvard and Dartmouth. The Crimson will be after their seventh league title, while the Big Green are looking for their 14th.
Here's a look at how each team stacks up in the 2001-2002 season, arranged from top to bottom according to the preseason media poll:
Harvard
(12-15, 9-5 Ivy League)
Key losses (1): Melissa Johnson
Key returners (5): Katie Gates (Sr., F), Sarah Johnson (Jr., C), Jennifer Monti (Sr., G), Hana Peljto (So., F), Tricia Tubridy (So., F)
Favored to win their first Ivy title since the 1997-1998 season, the Crimson return almost all of their starters from last year's campaign, including Hana Peljto, last season's Ivy League Rookie of the Year.
"Hana's a flat-out scorer," Penn coach Kelly Greenberg said. "We'll have problems defending her."
A first team All-Ivy selection as well, Peljto shot almost 50 percent from the field and is a considerable three-point threat. She also led the team in points per game (15.1) and rebounds per game (8.1).
Senior Jennifer Monti will be one of Harvard's leaders. Monti, a point guard, dished out 4.5 assists per game and also added 5.6 points per contest.
"The experience and toughness Jen Monti brings to the table for Harvard is unbelievable," Greenberg said.
Dartmouth
(12-15, 8-6)
Key losses (3): Samantha Berdinka, Sherryta Freeman, Stephanie Kinnear
Key returners (3): Keri Downs (Jr., G), Katharine Hanks (Jr., F), Katie Skelly (Jr., F)
The Big Green, picked third in the conference, finished just 10 points behind Penn in the preseason media poll. Dartmouth is led by Katharine Hanks, who was a first team All-Ivy selection last season. She was the team leader in points per game (15.7), boards per contest (8.7) and field goal percentage (49.6).
Dartmouth has no seniors on its squad, and thus will likely be even stronger in the 2002-2003 season. Nonetheless, the Big Green will contend for the title this year as well.
"Dartmouth is always tough," Greenberg said. "They're used to winning, they know how to win and they expect to win. So they'll definitely be a force to reckon with."
Cornell
(15-12, 8-6)
Key losses (2): Jennifer Linker, Katie Romey
Key returners (4): Lynell Davis (Jr., F), Karen Force (So., G), Do Stevens (Sr., G), Breean Walas (Sr., G)
The Big Red are again rated at the top of the league's middle-tier teams. Their biggest task this season will be replacing Katie Romey, who was the team's top shooter from beyond the arc and its second-leading scorer overall.
Cornell will have the advantage of returning five of its seven players who saw playing time in every game last season, including its leading scorer, Do Stevens. She will team up with fellow senior Breean Walas to provide a strong foundation for Cornell's backcourt.
Brown
(10-17, 5-9)
Key losses (2): Rachel MacDonald, Barbara Maloni
Key returner (2): Nyema Mitchell (So., F), Rada Pavichevich (Sr., G)
Brown will be significantly hampered by the graduation of Rachel MacDonald and Barbara Maloni. MacDonald led the team in rebounds last year (6.0) and also pitched in 8.9 points per game.
The Bears will also need to find a replacement for Maloni, who led the team with 19.0 points per game. Rada Pavichevich will likely step into this role, though she already leads the team in assists (3.2) and three-point shooting percentage (35.9).
"Brown will be tough, and they'll really be up there as the next team to beat behind Harvard and Dartmouth," Greenberg said.
Yale
(9-18, 4-10)
Key losses (2): Lily Glick, Alyson Miller
Key returners (2): Helene Schutrumpf (Jr., G), Maria Smear (Jr., G)
The Elis will have their top two scorers back in Maria Smear and Helene Schutrumpf. Smear shot over 40 percent from three-point range and scored 11.4 points per game last season, while Schutrumpf chipped in 8.6 points per contest.
The loss of the team's top rebounder and fourth-leading scorer, Alyson Miller, will certainly open up some playing time in the frontcourt.
Columbia
(9-18, 6-8)
Key losses (2): Brie Cokos, Shawnee Pickney
Key returners (3): Katie Day (Jr., F), Patricia Kern (Jr., G), Megan O'Neil (Jr., G)
After a fifth-place finish in the league last season, the Lions have been picked to battle it out with Princeton for basement honors. Columbia loses its top two scorers from last season, including first team All-Ivy selection Shawnee Pickney, who averaged 15.7 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per contest.
The Lions will be led by a trio of juniors whom they hope will pick up the scoring slack left by Pickney and Brie Cokos.
Princeton
(2-25, 2-12)
Key losses (2): Jessica Munson, Hillary Reser
Key returners (3): Allison Cahill (Jr., G), Maureen Lane (Jr., F), Lauren Rigney (Sr., F)
Despite returning just about every significant player from last year's squad, the Tigers have been picked to dwell in the basement for another year after posting a 2-12 league record in 2000-2001.
Maureen Lane, who led the team in points per game (14.3), three-point shooting percentage (36.0) and free throw percentage (81.7) last season, will continue to be the team's most dominant threat.
"Princeton has a new coach [Richard Barron] and they didn't have a great record last year," Greenberg said. "He didn't have much time to recruit, so I'm sure he'll be facing a lot of challenges. But that's always the kind of team that sneaks up on you and beats you."
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.