Finally, W. Hoops is Bieming

Coming off their first win in 16 games, the Quakers finally have some confidence heading into a weekend series.

"There are positive thoughts," coach Pat Knapp said. "That's where it all starts."

They hope to build on that and reverse their fortunes from earlier this season when they host Dartmouth (8-14, 5-3 Ivy) and Harvard (13-9, 6-2).

The Red and Blue lost tight road matches to both of them during the midst of their long slide.

Against Harvard, Penn led for 39 minutes, but last second heroics by the Crimson's Niki Finelli and Emily Tay snatched victory away.

The next night out versus Dartmouth, Penn gave up 21 offensive rebounds and ended up losing by five.

"We were coming off a two-week layoff at that point and we were just really excited to play," sophomore Sarah Bucar said.

Since then, the Quakers have been practicing "end of game situations," according to junior forward Carrie Biemer.

"There's only so many things you can do," Knapp added. "The bottom line is you need to be prepared and work together at the end of the game. At some point, somebody needs to make a play."

Biemer and the Penn frontcourt might have an advantage against the slower Harvard post players if the Crimson can be forced out of the paint.

But against both teams, the key to victory - and the element on which the Quakers have been working most this week - is offensive rebounding.

When asked what the team learned from the prior two meetings, Knapp repeatedly said rebounding.

"The reason why I say that three times is because that's really the key," he said.

On top of that, Knapp noted that the Quakers need to work on their offensive execution.

"We always want to get positive possessions," Knapp said.

"We want to screen well, move well, and have good spacing, and then if we get an open shot, even if the shot doesn't go, we did our job."

On the defensive side against Dartmouth, Knapp noted that the Quakers were looking "to guard some people differently."

Last time out against the Big Green, three players scored in double figures, with Brittney Smith leading all scorers with 17.

The Quakers have played both these teams quite well in the past. In order to come out with victories, however, they will have to learn how to finish well, too.

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