W. Hoops extends its win streak in New York

The Penn women's basketball team defeated Columbia and Cornell on consecutive nights in its first Ivy League doubleheader of the year this weekend. On Friday night, the Quakers (8-5, 2-0 Ivy League) defeated the Lions, 61-50, at Levien Gymnasium in New York City, before closing out their tour of New York state by topping the Big Red in a 69-66 nailbiter in Ithaca on Saturday. Despite the 11-point margin, Penn's Ivy-opener was closer than the final score indicated. "[The Lions] jumped on us early," Quakers coach Kelly Greenberg said. "They just came out excited and running the floor and we came out a little bit flat." Columbia (2-10, 1-1) held a four-point lead with a little over 10 minutes remaining in the contest, but Quakers junior forward Julie Epton -- who finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds -- scored six straight to give the Quakers a lead that they would not surrender. "Offensively, [the Lions] did things that we hadn't seen before, but we stayed composed and played really well down the stretch," Greenberg said. Greenberg credited Epton and senior guard Erin Ladley, who dumped in 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds with "coming up big" after the Lions keyed on Quakers' senior forward Diana Caramanico early in the game. Despite Columbia's efforts, Caramanico wasn't denied all game, as the two-time defending Ivy League Player of the Year led the Quakers with 19 points and 15 rebounds. The next night in Ithaca, Caramanico put on another solid performance. With 17 points and 15 rebounds, Caramanico posted her third straight double-double and her 12th in 13 games this season. The Quakers game against Cornell (7-7, 1-1) was a complete reversal of the previous night's contest. Penn opened up the game impressively. "[The Cornell game] was the exact opposite," Greenberg said. "This time we jumped off looking great and at one time held an 18-point lead in the first half. "But then one of their players hit three three-pointers in a row and they cut the lead down to seven at halftime." The game was nip-and-tuck throughout the second half, as the Big Red had a chance to tie the game with 12.7 seconds remaining, but Cornell guard Katie Romey's three-pointer missed its target as time ran out. "I was really pleased with Saturday night's game," said Greenberg, who referred to the last season's Saturday night Ivy League road games as "our bugaboo." "Before the game, I said to the girls that it's important to set the tone and let people know what we're about this year," Greenberg said. The Quakers successful weekend against the New York Ivies extended their current winning streak to seven, tying them with last year's Penn squad for the longest streak in team history. The Red and Blue started their current streak with two wins at the Palestra -- a 68-56 win over Stony Brook on December 28th, followed by a 60-42 pasting of Air Force two days later -- before winning the next five on the road. In addition to the two Ivy games, the road swing included wins at Lehigh, Siena and Albany in only a five-day span. Greenberg called the game with women's basketball power Siena "our biggest victory since I've been at Penn." "I got calls from all over the country after that one, congratulating us for being able to go up there and win," Greenberg said. "[Siena] has a pretty big name this year, so right now we feel pretty good."

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