After big loss, W. Hoops glad future is not near

Three-fourths of the Penn women's basketball team experienced college basketball for the first time. Fortunately for the Penn women's basketball team, Ivy League competition begins in January. The Quakers will need as much preparation time as possible, if Saturday's 81-58 season opening loss to St. Francis (Pa.) is any indication. For three-fourths of the team, the loss was their first taste of college basketball. Three freshmen, point guard Any Nolan, center Jessica Allen and forward Erin Ladley, joined returning guard Colleen Kelly and forward Michelle Maldonado in the starting lineup. From the jump ball, the Quakers' offense was plagued by turnovers at all positions. Bad passes and traveling violations precluded a field goal until six minutes into the half when Maldonado connected on a jumper. Early field goals by Red Flash forward Mary Markey gave St. Francis a 10-2 lead before Penn began to come back via the performance of Diana Caramanico, who came off the bench to score 15 of Penn's 26 first-half points. "I was kind of nervous," the freshman forward said, "so I just tried to focus on the little things like rebounding." Caramanico grabbed five first-half rebounds, some of which led to easy second-chance points. The rest of her baskets were jump shots assisted by center Jessica Allen and guards Ladley and Elisabeth Alexander. Production in the paint was especially necessary because St. Francis was able to shut down Kelly, who is normally very productive on the perimeter. Defensive pressure held Kelly to just three points on four shots. "She is capable of putting more points on the board," Penn coach Julie Soriero said. "She really had a tough time getting the ball." Co-captain Maldonado spent most of the half on the bench in foul trouble, leaving a hole in the offense. "With Michelle in foul trouble, the kids came in and met the challenge," Soriero said. "Diana really came into her own. I knew she would sooner or later, but I was glad to see that it was sooner." Despite Penn's difficulties with fouls and turnovers, the Quakers managed to stay in the game. The Red Flash took a scant four-point lead into the locker room, 30-26. The second half began much like the first, as the Red Flash quickly jumped ahead on baskets by Markey and forwards Jen DeFilippo and Jessica Zinobile. Once again, Maldonado's jumper at 18:34 was Penn's lone basket in the half's opening six minutes. Before the Quakers could stop the attack, St. Francis had built a 45-31 lead. "They scored a couple early and we got flustered," Caramanico said. With 11 minutes remaining, it looked as if the Quakers could get close, as Maldonado's jumper forced a Red Flash timeout and closed the lead to nine, 54-45. But Penn's failure to score again until Ladley's lay-up at the 7:50 mark helped the Red Flash go on a 14-3 run for a 20-point lead. This trend continued until the buzzer. A few Penn free throws in the face of multiple St. Francis field goals culminated in a final score of 81-58. Caramanico finished the game with 26 points and nine rebounds to lead the Quakers in both categories. Despite limited minutes, Maldonado contributed 12 points and four rebounds. For the Red Flash, Markey scored 21 while Zinobile and DeFilipo had 15 and 13, respectively. "I know that I have to be very patient with such a young group," Soriero said. "I know we will get better before the Ivy League competitions begin. These kids are learning from every game." The Quakers will not have much time to digest last Saturday's lessons. They travel to St. Joseph's tomorrow for the season's first Big 5 contest.