1994-95 Ivy League W. Hoops Standings: Quakers hope momentum will carry them into Ivy League lead

As defensive leader of the Penn women's basketball team, senior Katina Banks takes on every team's top player -- whether that player is a guard, a forward or a center. Banks will challenge one of the Ivy League's best tonight when the Quakers travel to Cornell. Cornell guard Mary LaMacchia will likely be keeping Banks in the chase all night with her versatile skills and lethally accurate shooting. But Banks is sure she can handle it after taking on Brown center and all-American Martina Jerant last weekend. "I feel confident in being able to guard pretty much anyone, even a point guard who is really fast or a post player," Banks said. "I think I'm quick enough to get my feet around in front." Banks and Penn (7-11, 4-2 Ivy League) should not have much trouble when they play at Columbia tomorrow night. The struggling Lions (0-18, 0-6) have been a given win for most teams this season. Banks has defended opponents in virtually every form with her agility and constant stealing threat. Banks is only 10 steals away from setting Penn's all-time record. Speed is one of Banks' advantages, but LaMacchia has an arsenal of other talents. Averaging 17.7 points per game, LaMacchia is the second leading scorer in the Ivy League behind Jerant. Last Friday, LaMacchia came away with 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in Cornell's loss to Dartmouth. She led the Big Red (6-12, 2-4) on an 18-3 run in the last four minutes to send the game into overtime. The next day against first-place Harvard, LaMacchia outdid herself with 26 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Every time the Quakers allow LaMacchia a good look at the basket, they could be forfeiting a field goal. She has 52 three-pointers already this season, just one away from setting a Cornell season record. Last weekend, LaMacchia was 60 percent from the perimeter and 85.7 percent from the free throw line. Banks will have her hands full coming out to defend the outside shot while preventing LaMacchia from driving in. Banks has proved herself invaluable to the Quaker defense time and time again. Against Loyola January 20, Banks disposed of the scoring threat of Greyhounds forward Patty Stoffee. The all-time leading scorer in Maryland Division I women's basketball history, Stoffee went into the game averaging 22.9 ppg. Banks allowed her only seven points. If LaMacchia is not enough trouble tonight, Lions guard Nicole Nicusanti will be pestering Banks tomorrow. Nicusanti had a combined 26 points and 6 rebounds last weekend versus Yale and Brown. As Banks leads the defense, the Quakers will rely on senior guard Shelly Bowers, sophomore Erica McCauley at the point and center Natasha Rezek to get things heated up on the other end of the court. Since moving to shooting guard earlier this season, Bowers has twice scored 24 points. "Shelly has done great in our last few games," Penn coach Julie Soriero said. "She has been really critical to our success." The three-point shooting power of Bowers and McCauley could be enough to offset LaMacchia. Outside shooting propelled the Quakers to victory over Princeton Tuesday night in a game when Penn's inside scoring and rebounding totals were well below Princeton's. To continue their success this weekend, the Quakers will need more help from their inside players.