W. Hoops must stop Stoffee and Loyola

Struggling offensively, turning the ball over -- the Penn women's basketball team has often been its own worst enemy on its way to a 2-9 record this season. Tonight the Quakers face a much more dangerous threat when they tip off against Loyola (Md.) at the Palestra at 7. Her name is Patty Stoffee. After averaging 32.5 points and 11.5 rebounds during two games last weekend, Stoffee proved she is at the top of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and the East Coast Athletic Conference. She was named player of the week for the third time in the MAAC and for the second time in the ECAC. Penn's victory over Temple Wednesday night was keyed by solid defense, but containing Stoffee will require a special strategy. Stoffee racked up a stunning 37 points versus Fairfield Saturday and became the all-time female collegiate leading scorer in the state's history. "Loyola will be coming in with a lot of confidence, but so will we," sophomore point guard Erica McCauley said. The Quakers are planning to use a man-to-man defense against Loyola. Senior Katina Banks will be matched against Stoffee and the Quakers plan to keep Banks on her all night while senior Shelly Bowers handles their other power shooter. Banks is one of the Quakers' top defenders with 183 career steals. In practices this week, Penn has concentrated its energy forming defensive strategies to keep Stoffee in check. The Quakers have never played Loyola and did not even look at scouting reports until today. Penn has confidence Stoffee will not steal the show entirely in the Banks matchup. Stoffee is 5-foot-11, but her advantage is only three inches. Banks' speed could also even the scales. "Katina [Banks] is much quicker than Stoffee," Bowers said. "She won't be able to drive against Katina." As if Stoffee's offensive prowess was not enough, she is also tough pulling down the rebounds at the other end of the court. Loyola has an arsenal of zone defenses which could be lethal for the Quakers. "We have been working on the little things," McCauley said. "Good ball movement created better shots against Temple."