W. Hoops has big shoes to fill

The passion is still fierce.

Forget the players the Quakers lost. Content doesn't come close to describing the mentality of the Penn women's basketball team's three captains at the outset of the 2001-2002 season.

And it is their job to reinforce that idea to the rest of the club, because it is their mission to repeat as Ivy League champions.

Senior forward Julie Epton, junior forward Jennifer Jones and junior point guard Tara Twomey are the Quakers' captains this year, and they are in a position none of their predecessors have ever known.

All the talk last year revolved around the Red and Blue's quest for their first-ever Ivy crown.

In fact, that has probably been the motivation driving each edition of the team dating back to its inaugural season of Ancient Eight competition in 1974-1975.

Now, a perfect Ivy season later, a different challenge lies ahead -- staying at the top.

Still, this year's captains insist that their commitment to winning has not at all faded with last season's successes, especially since many oustiders are discounting Penn's chances after losing Diana Caramanico and Erin Ladley to graduation.

"Even though we won the championship last year, there are very few people out there who think we could do it again," Twomey said. "But we hate to lose."

The departure of Caramanico and Ladley, who are both currently playing overseas, will undoubtedly strike a blow to the Quakers.

The two co-captains were leaders on and off the court, and accounted for precisely half of Penn's average total of 70 points per game.

Making up for the loss of scoring will inevitably prove a difficult task, but the captains are not particularly concerned about assuming their new responsibilities.

"I think the three of us fill the role pretty well," Twomey said. "All three of us have been playing together for at least two years and we've all had leadership roles in the past."

Twomey, a native of Camp Hill, Pa., already became accustomed to being vocal and giving orders as the starting point guard last year.

"Tara has always been our leader on the court," Penn coach Kelly Greenberg said.

Jones, a product of Melrose Park, Pa., is likely the quietest of the three captains this season. But she feels that it will benefit the team to have three unique leaders who all feature distinct attributes.

"We have very different personalities, but we still work very well together," Jones said.

Greenberg is confident about each of her captains, yet she particularly believes that Jones' new role on the team will encourage a sort of symbiotic relationship.

The third-year coach hopes that her tri-captain can improve herself, in addition to just helping the team.

"I think this is great for Jen," Greenberg said. "She'll really step up to the plate and lead by example."

Julie Epton, a native of Ann Arbor, Mich., is the lone senior on this year's squad. She is the only team member to pre-date the Greenberg era and is thus the last link to the days before the Red and Blue turned the corner.

Now in her fourth year at Penn, Epton has learned much from past captains in preparing to lead the Quakers this season.

She emphasized the notion that much of her work will be done behind the scenes, helping younger teammates with off-court issues.

"I've always thought the captains have been a very good outlet for something you want to get off your chest," Epton said.

"I think, in a way, we have more of a responsibility for everybody else, to see how they are doing inside and outside of basketball."

Greenberg explained that Epton is well-suited to the captain's role because she is often the loudest and most intense player on the court for either side during a game.

"Julie Epton is the best teammate to have," Greenberg said. "If someone has missed her last three shots, she'll be the one to go over and say, 'Don't worry, that's all right.'"

Although Greenberg stated that she generally does not prefer to have three captains, she remains very positive about Twomey, Jones and Epton forming the backbone of the Quakers.

But while they may grow into effective leaders, the Red and Blue will become increasingly reliant on this trio to produce, as well as lead.

Last season, while three-time league MVP Caramanico dominated the Ivies by scoring 21.7 points per game, and Ladley tallied an even 13, the other players were admittedly overshadowed at times.

Epton was the team's third-leading scorer with 9.7 points. Jones was fifth, averaging 6.2, and Twomey was sixth, with 4.7.

Sophomore guard Jewel Clark, who had a sensational 2000-2001 season off the bench and was a contender for Ivy League Rookie of the Year, contributed 9.1 points per contest.

All of these players, perhaps shackled somewhat by Caramanico and Ladley's brilliant performances, will now have more of an opportunity to display their offensive talents.

And they will need to take advantage of this chance for Penn to repeat.

"We need [the captains] a lot. They are the experienced players, along with Jewel," Greenberg said.

And the captains are also the ones most used to working with their coach. All have felt a strong attachment to Greenberg in their time at Penn, but they have now further heightened their already great mutual respect.

"We're the first people she comes to," Twomey said. "And she expects a lot out of us."

Penn coaches and fans will all be hoping for big years from this year's tri-captains, as the burden of following up a league title with another successful campaign rests squarely on their shoulders.

Fortunately for the Red and Blue, Greenberg believes that the right three players are in place to bear that load.

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