Maldonado can't be stopped on boards

Things have not gone well for the Penn women's basketball team lately. After back-to-back losses at Brown and Yale this weekend, the Quakers' losing streak stands at five. Penn coach Julie Soriero was irked enough by her team's play that she pulled starters Shelly Fogarty, Colleen Kelly and Deana Lewis from the lineup on Saturday night against the Elis. "The problem has been consistency," Soriero said. "I don't have any idea yet who is going to start this weekend." Penn's shooting has gone ice cold. Granted, Kelly -- the Quakers' long-range bomber -- is suffering from the after-effects of a concussion. And Fogarty has been playing for weeks with a bone bruise on her knee. But there is no explanation why the Quakers -- fifth in the Ivies in shooting percent at 40.6 percent -- have hovered around the 34 percent mark over the past four games. · But every cloud has its silver lining. For the Quakers, hope comes in the form of junior power forward Michelle Maldonado, who throughout the Red and Blue's five-game losing streak has remained top five in Division I rebounding at 10.8 boards per game. "I think its a real tribute to Michelle," Soriero said. "If you are the coach and you know that someone on the other team is ranked in rebounding, you will do anything to keep this kid off the boards." The 5-foot-10 forward was a question mark heading into the season. Injuries limited her to just 456 total minutes on the hardwood during her first two seasons. As a result, Maldonado averaged just 4.1 boards per game over her first two seasons. But the forward showed promise after returning to the Quakers lineup late last season, pulling down an auspicious 12 rebounds in Penn's 73-58 victory over Columbia. As a result, when Soriero learned her 6-foot-4 center, Carrie Fleck, was taking a year off from school, Maldonado earned a chance to start at power forward for Penn. Since the season opener against St. Francis, Penn's power forward has been simply unstoppable on the boards. Throughout the Quakers' entire five-game losing streak -- a streak marked by inconsistent play -- the one constant has been Maldonado's 10 boards each night. "A lot of [rebounding] comes from being in the right place at the right time," Maldonado said. "While the ball is in the air, you keep moving your feet and realize where it is really quick. Then you make a huge leap." This may sound simple, but Maldonado's task is especially difficult since she also is the No. 1 option in the Quaker offense. As the Red and Blue's leading scorer (15.4 points per game), Maldonado often waits for the ball behind the perimeter. This increases the distance she must travel quickly to pull an offensive board off the glass. · The future looks bright for Penn. Although co-captains Lewis and Amy Tarr will be lost to graduation, the Quakers nucleus of Maldonado, Kelly, Fogerty and point guard Chelsea Hathaway will return. In addition, Street and Smith Honorable Mention All-Americans Diana Caramanico and Chandra Nelson were admitted to Penn early decision. Both players will play for Soriero next season. Caramanico and Nelson, both 6-foot-1, will add some size to a small Quakers line-up. Caramanico is currently the leading scorer and rebounder at Germantown Academy, where she plays both guard and forward. Nelson is the Potomac Conference's top scorer at 17.7 points per game. Like Caramanico, the Tucker County High School star is also strong on the boards, averaging 9.0 rebounds per contest. Also accepting early decision to Penn are 6-foot-3 center Jessica Allen and 5-foot-8 guard Claire Cavanaugh. Among this season's freshman class, just one frosh, Hathaway, was accepted early decision.