W. Hoops' Ivy run on line at Senior Night

Tonight's Ivy League and regular season finale for the Penn women's basketball team pits two squads headed in opposite directions. The Quakers (21-5, 13-0 Ivy League) are looking to extend their 20-game winning streak -- the longest in the nation for men or women -- and run the Ivy table by finishing a perfect 14-0 in the Ancient Eight. If Penn finishes undefeated in the Ivies, it will be only the second team to have done so since the conference adopted the 14-game schedule in 1986-87. Harvard accomplished the feat during the 1996-97 season. On the opposite side of the spectrum is the Red and Blue's opponent tonight, Princeton (2-24, 2-11). The Tigers have had little to roar about this season. The team from Old Nassau has not posted a single win outside the Ancient Eight and is last in the league in scoring, rebounding and turnovers. The RPI rankings currently have Princeton ranked 311 out of 316 Division-I schools. The Red and Blue have something to look forward to after tonight. The team will be waiting anxiously in the Dunning Center Sunday to find out who and where it will be playing in its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. Princeton, on the other hand, will be making plans for the offseason after tonight's contest. But this game is far from an afterthought for the Quakers. Tonight is Senior Night at the Palestra, marking the last time the five seniors will ever step foot on the legendary court that they have called home the past four years. And they are determined to make their last game a memorable one. "There is no way I'm going to let something tragic happen on my last night in the Palestra," Penn senior forward Diana Caramanico said. "I am not going to roll over for a team on my senior night and I know four people are with me." Caramanico is normally joined in the starting lineup by fellow senior Erin Ladley. But tonight, Penn coach Kelly Greenberg will also start her other three seniors -- center Jessica Allen and guards Liz Alexander and Claire Cavanaugh. There will be a ceremony before tonight's tipoff in honor of the five fourth-year players. Then the departing starters will look to take care of the Tigers and add to the team's program-record 21 victories. "It is a big night for the seniors, who have a lot of emotion since it is their last game at the Palestra," Penn coach Kelly Greenberg said. "So it's only fitting for them to leave on a winning note." The Red and Blue also realize that records are thrown out the window when archrival Princeton comes to town. "Penn-Princeton is the greatest rivalry and we'll play like two teams fighting for a title," Penn junior forward Julie Epton said. "It would make their season to beat us and not let us go undefeated." But, this Penn team does not believe it needs any extra motivation. "Everyone will come out with a lot of heart," Epton said. "Just like every game hasn't been a letdown for us so far, neither will tomorrow."

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