Three road games, three dominating efforts by opposing forwards, three consecutive losses.
After being ripped for 27 points and 13 boards by Temple senior forward Athena Christofakis last Wednesday, the Penn women's basketball team's defense was thrashed for 30 points and 11 rebounds by Stony Brook's Sherry Jordan on Friday.
Last Saturday's combined 34-point, 12-rebound total by George Mason's frontcourt duo -- Khalilah Smith and Laura Kooij -- dealt the Quakers (2-4 overall, 0-2 Big 5) their third loss in a row.
"In the last few games, we haven't played such great team defense," Penn sophomore guard Jewel Clark said. "We need to pick up the intensity and continue playing together as a team. We need to encourage each other."
Even though the Quakers finally return to the Palestra tonight to host St. Joseph's(3-2 overall, 0-0 Big 5) in Penn's home-opener, it doesn't look to be getting any easier for the vertically-challenged Red and Blue defense.
The Hawks' attack is anchored by All-American candidate, frontcourt behemoth Susan Moran.
The senior captain is averaging 25.4 points per game along with 8.8 boards per contest. Nearly deadly from the foul line, the 6-foot-1 forward has connected on 24 of 25 free-throw attempts for an amazing 96 percent free-throw percentage.
"We definitely have been preparing for her," Clark said. "She is a real good player and we just have to work together and help each other on defense."
"We are also smaller than we were last year," Penn sophomore Mikaelyn Austin added. "So we need to focus on giving some different looks to the offense and make up for our lack of height with quickness."
Last season's Big 5 champions, St. Joe's, knocked off Penn 81-75 on Nov. 18, 2000, in both teams first game of the season.
With Diana Caramanico limited to seven points in the first half -- she finished strong to wind up with 20 points -- Clark anchored the Penn offense, scoring 21 points in her first collegiate game.
This season Clark plays a much more vital role in the Quakers offense. Leading the Quakers with an average of 16.7 points and 8.7 boards per game, the 5-foot-10 sophomore has at times been a dominating presence in the Penn backcourt so far this season.
After four consecutive double-digit scoring nights -- including a double-double against Temple -- Clark had a clunker versus Stony Brook, floundering to a five-point, four-turnover effort.
Although she bounced back against the Patriots to score 23 points, the Quakers cannot afford another lackluster performance from their rising sophomore star against the Hawks.
"This weekend I played OK," Clark said. "I've just got to be more aggressive overall and playing with more fire."
Besides shutting down Moran and getting a top game from Clark, the Quakers will also need to rebound better against the Hawks.
In its three-game skid, Penn has come up short in the battle of the boards to each of its opponents.
After being dominated on the glass by Temple and Stony Brook --the Owls and Seawolves claimed 46-to-36 and 39-to-27 advantages, respectively -- the Quakers were only out-rebounded by five against George Mason.
"We played tougher against George Mason," Clark said. "We need to continue to box out and play with intensity."
In addition to winning the individual statistical wars, the Quakers will also need to capture the emotional edge to win tonight.
"We need to bring our heart and souls," Clark said.
