W. Hoops to begin Ivy play over break

The members of the Penn women's basketball team may have final exams for the next two weeks, but over winter break, the Quakers will be truly tested. Penn plays five games over the break, and two are of particular consequence and will provide a good litmus test of just how far Kelly Greenberg's team has come in the coach's first year in West Philadelphia. January 8 marks the opening of Penn's Ivy League season at Jadwin Gym against Princeton (2-7), the league's defending co-champion. The Tigers will no doubt be out for revenge, as the last time the two teams met, Penn's victory kept Princeton from winning the Ivy title outright. The Tigers then lost to Dartmouth in a one-game playoff and were forced to sit at home as the Big Green claimed the Ivy League's NCAA Tournament automatic berth. "I don't like [how early in the schedule] it is, but that's where it is," Greenberg said. "It's an emotional game for everyone, and I do like that it's during break so we can just tend to our business and get it done." The Quakers will also be able to concentrate solely on basketball for their Big 5 finale against Villanova, which has an identical record to Penn at 4-4, 1-2 in the Big 5. The Quakers, however, have not won two Big 5 games in the same season since 1974-75 and last beat the Wildcats in 1991. "It would be great to just beat Villanova in itself," Penn forward Diana Caramanico said. "Two Big 5 wins in one season just makes it more special." Penn will face two more regional rivals over the break when both Bucknell and Lehigh come to visit the Palestra. The Bison (4-1), who make their appearance on 33rd Street on January 2, are having a very strong season so far. Bucknell is led by freshman Molly Creamer, who is averaging 19.4 points per game. "They are playing really well," Greenberg said. "That'll be a great challenge." Creamer's youth poses a special challenge for the Quakers, as she makes the Bison a far different and better team than the one that Greenberg saw last year as an assistant at Holy Cross. Another Patriot League rival, the Engineers (4-6) have not changed much since last season when Penn beat them 71-62. The Quakers' battle with Lehigh is sandwiched between the games with Princeton and Villanova, however, and Penn must be careful not to look past their opponents. Maintaining such focus should not be a problem for Greenberg, who experienced nothing but success while with the Crusaders. "I have some extra drive that I have beaten [the Patriot League teams]," Greenberg said. "I don't want to start losing to them now." The Quakers will face their final opponent of the 20th century on December 29 in Brooklyn at tiny St. Francis (N.Y.) in the Pope Center, one of Division I's smallest gyms -- the capacity is just 1,200. The Terriers have struggled this season, but they took the Quakers into overtime last year before Penn finally triumphed, 70-64. The Quakers will need to be in top form this winter break if they hope to usher in the next century in style.