W. HOOPS NOTEBOOK: Tough schedule helping W. Hoops

Tuesday night's 63-55 victory over Temple at McGonigle Hall was certainly an important win for the Penn women's basketball team. After all, the Quakers had only come out on top in one other Big 5 game since 1983. But more than Philly bragging rights were on the line for Penn on Tuesday -- with a 2-8 record and Ivy League play rapidly approaching, the Quakers needed to come up with a solid performance to gain some confidence. And with the exception of a few brief stretches, they did just that. With the season nearly half complete, the Quakers will have to use the win as a foundation to build on for the rest of the year. "Hopefully everyone will remember how it felt after the game was over, because it was a great win," Penn senior co-captain Julie Gabriel said. "We need to keep that positive attitude and stay confident." The victory over the Owls may have been the second positive effect of what has been a tough non-conference schedule for Penn. The first came January 7 when the Quakers won at Harvard for the first time since 1985. Penn has struggled against powerful opponents like Virginia, Baylor, SMU, Florida and Ohio State, often coming up on the short end of margins exceeding 20 points. But the Quakers have gained valuable experience against quality competition, and these acquisitions are starting to pay dividends -- just ask Harvard and Temple. These trends are ones that should benefit the Quakers as they head into Ivy League play (the team is now 1-1, having lost at Dartmouth). But of course there are no guarantees. "When you think about the games we've had, you realize we're not going to face that type of competition in the Ivies. But that doesn't mean we're hoping to just walk in and win," Gabriel said. "The Ivy title is still our goal, and I think it's going to be wide open. But the games we've played should help us." · As the season goes on, two freshmen continue to impress. Point guard Erica McCauley and center Deana Lewis were once again able to make key contributions on Tuesday at McGonigle in the win over the Owls. Throughout the season, McCauley has helped stabilize the backcourt with consistent ball distribution. She has allowed Penn coach Julie Soriero to keep junior guards Katina Banks and Shelly Bowers fresh for the closing minutes of games. McCauley has been able to beat many opposing full-court presses without turning the ball over, which proved vital against the Owls. Lewis has rapidly improved into a force at both ends of the court. She has used a developing inside game to compliment the Quakers' perimeter prowess. As seen in her 10-point performance at Temple, she is able to hold her own in the paint when senior center Katarina Poulsen gets into foul trouble. And on the other end of the court, Lewis held Owl sophomore center Amy Dittenber to only 5 of 16 from the floor. "I think both Erica and Deana are doing a great job. They're not playing like freshmen," Gabriel said. "We really do need them, so they can't just sit back and watch. We've needed them to step up, and they have been doing it." · The Quakers will have some time to savor their Big 5 conquest. They don't see action again until next week when they host Lafayette Monday and face Villanova at the Civic Center Thursday.