W. Hoops splits against Ivy League foes

Junior Jewel Clark paced the Quakers with back-to-back double doubles this weekend, playing all 80 minutes in the two games against Dartmouth and Harvard. This was nothing new for the Waldorf, Md. native, as she averages 19 points, 10 rebounds and 36 minutes per game this season. But Clark's combined 47 points and 30 rebounds weren't enough for the Red and Blue (7-9, 1-2 Ivy League), as they split their two-game roadtrip, defeating the Big Green, 74-55, and then losing to the Crimson, 80-71. "Jewel deserves a lot of credit for her play this weekend," Penn coach Kelly Greenberg said. "Her [performance against Harvard] might have been her best game ever in a Penn uniform." While Clark clearly came prepared for both games this past weekend, it seemed as if her teammates weren't as mentally ready early in the Harvard game. "The team played very well [against Harvard] other than the first six minutes of the game," Greenberg said. "But we really dug a hole for ourselves and it was hard to regain the momentum of the game." Junior guard Mikaelyn Austin came off the bench to score 13 points against Dartmouth and tied her career-high in three-pointers -- set less than a week ago in Penn's victory over Delaware -- with five against Harvard. Austin is comfortable with her bench role, largely because it gives her the opportunity to notice patterns in the opponent's defense and what she can do to help her teammates when she gets in the game. But in Saturday's game against Harvard, Austin's scoring presence might have helped the Quakers to a stronger start in the opening minutes of the game. "We didn't have a sense of urgency in the beginning of the game and the start of the second half versus Harvard," Austin said. "Harvard jumped out at us in the first few minutes the same way that we jumped out at Dartmouth the night before." Greenberg likes Austin coming off the bench because of her shooting ability. "She can make long-range threes," Greenberg said. "And that's what we need off the bench." In addition to Austin's strong shooting versus Harvard, sophomore Karen Habrukowich scored 20 points against Dartmouth, going 3-for-7 from long-range. Habrukowich and Penn's other guards played tenacious defense against the Big Green, limiting them to just 1-of-19 three-point shooting. The Quakers shot 35 percent from beyond the arc this past weekend, making 17-of- 48 attempts. But even when Penn had the hot hand against Harvard -- shooting 55 percent in the first half -- it still wasn't enough. The Red and Blue trailed 40-32 at the half. Harvard's lead grew as high as 16 in the second half and after Penn cut the lead to eight with 3:46 remaining in the game, the Crimson's Hana Peljto -- the reigning Ivy League Player of the Year -- made a layup, extending Harvard's lead to 12. Peljto recorded 32 points and nine rebounds in the Crimson's victory over Penn. With two Ivy League losses, the Red and Blue's chances at an Ancient Eight title may require an undefeated remainder of the season. "Our goal is to win both games [Columbia and Cornell] this upcoming weekend," Greenberg said. "We have to try to win two games every weekend." However, Penn, picked by the media's preseason poll to finish second in the Ivy League behind Harvard, may not have complete control over its title destiny. "Winning the title over Harvard is out of our hands," Austin said. "Many teams could beat them but we can't count on that happening." But the Quakers are determined to avenge their loss to Harvard when they face the Crimson Feb. 21 at the Palestra. Greenberg added that the Quakers have improved a significant amount since the Saint Joseph's game, winning three of their last four. "It will be easier to beat Harvard on our own floor," Greenberg said. "But it's important that we continue to progress over the next few weeks." "We want to come back from this loss really hungry to win," Clark said. "And we have to believe that we still have a chance at the title."

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