Early Ivy matchups key for 0-1 Quakers

This weekend could be make or break for the Penn women's basketball season.

The Quakers (4-8, 0-1 Ivy) are in the midst of a four-game slide, and already dropped their Ivy League opener. While the conference slate is just beginning, home losses to Cornell (4-9) and Columbia (3-10) would be difficult setbacks to overcome.

Cornell is coming off a heart-breaking defeat, losing 60-59 after a comeback attempt fell short. The Lions, for their part, have lost three straight.

The Quakers, meanwhile, are coming off a tough 78-72 loss to arch-rival Princeton. In that game they dug themselves an early hole from which they could not escape; despite the close score, they never held the lead.

"Princeton outran us," coach Pat Knapp said. "They outworked us, particularly offensively. We've gone through all that with our players, but we've moved on."

That loss was the Quakers' fourth straight, their worst such streak of the season. They did face quality opponents, such as Temple and Xavier, but were also badly outplayed. They scored just 59 points per game during the streak, to their opponents' 73.

Captain Joey Rhoads, who netted her 1,000th career point Saturday, saw some benefit from the experience.

"We played some games against tougher competition, and that will definitely help us for Ivy League games," she said. "Having played against better talent is good to get under our belt."

The focus now shifts to two opponents that have not given Penn much trouble in the past. Although the Quakers lost both matchups with the Big Red last year, they are 43-12 against Cornell all-time, the most success they have had against any Ivy opponent. Last year's 64-49 victory over Columbia in February - the 200th women's victory at the Palestra - was the 17th time in the last 19 meetings that Penn emerged victorious.

Despite his team's recent struggles, Knapp said that he will not alter his lineup. Guard Anca Popovici, who has netted just 1.8 points per game, will retain the fifth starting spot - for now. The emphasis at practices this week was not about change, but rather continuing what the Quakers have tried to do all year long.

"One main thing we talked about is better possessions on offense - there were a lot of mental mistakes," Rhoads said. "We [also] let them get a lot of transition points, so we need to be able to stop the fast break."

Knapp was pleased with what he saw.

"We've had a good week of practice, so I think we're going to be mentally and physically in the best frame of mind we can be," he said. "I'm confident our gals will bring it on the court this week."

They will have to if they want to handle Ivy games on back-to-back nights, no easy feat. Knapp said that the Quakers should go all out tonight, and does not plan to focus on the Columbia game until Saturday morning.

These games are even more significant than usual conference battles.

"This weekend is important for us because we felt confident that we can win both, which will help our confidence for the rest of the season," Rhoads said.

Plus, Knapp added, he is still optimistic that his team can win the Ancient Eight.

"The League's wide open, he said. "I believe that it's one through eight this year, I truly do. I think the Ivy League champion will have more than two losses."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.