Penn, 'Nova to face off

Zero wins, 16 losses. A dismal record, at best, yet the Penn women's basketball team has no choice but to accept it. In the non-conference season finale, unfortunately, things are not looking much brighter as the Quakers travel to Temple tonight to face Villanova in the front end of a Big 5 doubleheader. Villanova (15-4, 3-0 Big 5) is among the best teams in the Big East behind Connecticut and is ranked 31st in the nation. For the Quakers (0-16, 0-3) the game is statistically meaningless, since the Red and Blue have no chance of winning the Big 5. Statistically meaningless, perhaps, but on an emotional level, even one win, especially against a Wildcats program which has drawn national respect, would bring Penn the moral uplift it so desperately needs. "A win would be huge," Quakers forward Deana "Deaner" Lewis said. "We'd be joyful and maybe realize, 'Oh, that's all we had to do.' It would give us a whole new outlook. Right now, I'm just asking for a win." The lack of a win is beginning to take its toll as frustration, to varying degrees, is beginning to show -- particularly in the production gap between the Quakers frontcourt and backcourt. "I'm extremely frustrated," Penn center Natasha Rezek said of the inconsistency of the guards. "I'd simply like to see the ball go in the hole." In terms of off-the-court chemistry, the frustration has not affected Rezek. But according to the senior captain, it has begun to take its wear on the players' interaction on the hardwood. "They're all good shooters," Rezek said. "They just don't shoot enough. Me and Deana take 18 to 20 shots a game, but they're only taking 3,4 or 5." "The inside players have every right to be frustrated with the guard play," Penn coach Julie Soriero said. "But maybe that frustration is good -- maybe it's just what we need." Regardless of the emotion which is slowly beginning to leak out, the team is still unified in its effort on the court and in its pursuit of a win. "There is no dissension on the team," Quakers guard Caryn Greene said. "It's a matter of refocusing. Once you lose, it's over. We can't ever go into a game expecting to lose." It is just that attitude which keeps the Red and Blue hopeful every night, including tonight against the Wildcats. "'Nova is sleeping on us because of our record," Greene said. Because Villanova is the final non-conference game of the season for Penn, the Quakers admitted to looking slightly past tonight's game towards the remaining nine Ivy League contests. "There's still a good chance to be competitive," Greene said. "I think we can still finish in the top three." Soriero has taken the first step in trying to change things by replacing two of the perimeter starters. Hope Smith will be replaced at the two-guard spot by Patty Loyack, and Michelle Maldonado will replace Amy Tarr at the three-spot. "Our goal for the season was to be competitive in the Ivy League," Soriero said. "We need to reframe our goals, even if it might mean changing the starting lineup or substituting differently."