A strong start will be the key to the Penn women's basketball game against Drexel tonight at the Palestra.
Penn comes into tonight's game having dropped their season opener to Temple on Friday night, 78-71.
The Quakers came out of the gates slowly against the Owls and despite a furious second half comeback, were unable to overcome an 11-point halftime deficit.
"I think the biggest thing from Friday night's game was that once we got over the initial ten minutes where we didn't play so hot, we found our intensity and toughness," Penn coach Kelly Greenberg said. "We don't want to start off slow like that again."
After Friday night's tepid opening, the Quakers were able to mount a strong second half and outscore the Owls, 43-39.
Tonight's game is Drexel's first of the 2002-03 season.
While Drexel's program is sure to suffer from losses due to graduation, the Dragon's remaining players still pose a serious threat to the Red and Blue's defense.
Drexel's biggest loss was Michelle Maslowski. A first-team All-Colonial Athletic Conference selection, Maslowski led the CAA in scoring with 18.9 points-per-game. She also claimed the record as Drexel's all-time leading scorer with1,864 career points during her four years at Drexel. Last season, she amassed 13 double-doubles and led the Dragons in scoring 17 times.
Drexel will look to prove that they can play without Maslowski for the first time tonight.
This year, the Dragons will rely heavily on senior guard Steph Frysinger. Last year, she led the team in assists, averaging 4.5 a game, and minutes per game with 36.7
Greenberg clearly respects Frysinger's ability.
"Frysinger will be looking to score a lot more this year," she said. "She is definitely a key for them this year and has been for the past few years at the point guard spot."
In addition to containing Frysinger, the Quakers will also have to deal with red-shirt sophomore forward Katrina Martin.
Martin sat out all of last season with a foot injury, but the Quakers remember her from her freshman year -- the 2000-01 season -- when she blew up for a double-double against the Red and Blue. Martin was chosen as the America East Rookie of the Year in that season.
The Dragons left the America East Conference to compete in the Colonial Athletic Conference at the end of the 2000-2001 season.
"She's a legit player," Greenberg said. "We have to be ready to play against her."
While Penn recognizes Drexel's ability, they will not modify their style of play to accommodate the Dragons.
"We definitely want to go up and down the court against Drexel," Greenberg said. "Certainly, when Temple was using the full court press and making us do things, that's what we want to do as a team against Drexel."
