Cold shooting is W. Hoops downfall in 64-50 loss

The Quakers shot just 33 percent from the floor, never exhibiting the scoring punch to handle Lafayette. Heading into last night's game against Lafayette, the Penn women's basketball team had three main objectives it needed to achieve if it were to keep its momentum going from last Thursday's win over Loyola (Md.). The general consensus was that in order to record a victory the Quakers needed to cut back on turnovers, balance out the scoring and maintain a high level of intensity. Apparently, somebody forgot to mention bringing an offense, as Penn shot a miserly 33 percent, losing to the Leopards, 64-50. The scoring for Penn (5-9) -- what little there was to speak of -- was surprisingly balanced, as 10 Quakers broke into the scoring column. That statistic becomes less impressive, however, when it is coupled with the fact that only two Quakers reached double figures. Beyond power forward Michelle Maldonado's 16 points and 10 more chipped in by senior co-captain Deana Lewis, the Red and Blue's offense was non-existent. The Quakers' lack of scoring punch was even more painful, considering this was a game that the Quakers should have won. Lafayette (8-9) was supposed to be a mere stepping stone, a primer for the tough Ivy League schedule that Penn is about to face. Instead, the Leopards ended up handing the Quakers their most lopsided loss of the season. "We came out flat. The shots weren't falling tonight, we were losing people on defense," Quakers sophomore guard Sue Van Stone said. "Our hearts didn't seem to be in it tonight." Penn's intensity level suffered some ups and downs, as well. The team's defense did not disappoint, limiting Lafayette to 42 percent shooting and only 26 points in the first half. And yet the Quakers were outrebounded, 40-39, by one of the few teams they have faced this season over whom they have had a decisive height advantage. "It's a lack of focus. It's a lack of a lot of things, but mainly focus," Penn forward Michelle Maldonado said. "So if we're not going to box out consistently, we're going to be outrebounded." Every loss has its silver lining, however, and for Penn there were two. Soriero's increasing confidence in her bench, though it failed to make up the difference in the game, gave the team a lift that could pay big dividends down the road. For the most part, Soriero has stuck with a six- or seven-player rotation that has left her with few options when her top players get into foul trouble or need rests. Last night, four normally-dormant players on Penn's bench received substantial playing time. Van Stone, who played a solid 16 minutes in her back-up role to Colleen Kelly, noted her team's frustration with the loss. "We didn't expect a blowout, but I expected a win," Van Stone said. "Nothing they did surprised us. It was not what they did, it was what we did not do." The Quakers defensive effort also leaves the team with something to build upon. Despite its uncharacteristic shooting woes last night, the team has shown time and time again that the offense is there. All five Penn starters have shown the ability to contribute a double-digit effort in any given game. Last night, three of those starters, Kelly, guard Chelsea Hathaway and forward Shelly Fogarty, combined for 10 points. The potential, a word that the Penn team is getting all too familiar with this season, for an impressive run in the Ivies when these players get on track has to have Soriero anticipating league play. As for the game itself, it was one of runs. Lafayette opened the game scoring the first eight points, a margin that they would hold for much of the first half. A late 6-0 run by the Quakers, however, enabled them to close the gap to 26-24 at the break. But Penn's lack of scoring touch proved to be too much for the team to overcome, as Lafayette began the second half with a 19-5 run to take a 45-29 lead. The Quakers were able to close the lead to 10, but never seriously threatened again. Soriero, who now must prepare for the Ivy opener against Columbia on Friday, hopes to use the loss as a motivational tool as the team heads into to its conference schedule.