This weekend, the Penn campus will be filled with candy grams, stuffed animals and candlelit dinners.
But for the Penn women's basketball team, Feb. 14 means something rather different.
"For us, Valentine's Day's all about the 'W,' not the 'L.' -- no love," Penn coach Kelly Greenberg joked.
All kidding aside, the Quakers (11-7, 5-0 Ivy) will look to get two W's and hold onto their lead in the Ivy League as they face off against Columbia and Cornell this weekend at the Palestra.
Columbia boasts one of the biggest lineups in the Ivy League and leads the Ancient Eight in rebounding. The Red and Blue will also have to contend with Sue Altman, the Lions' sharpshooting senior center.
"Sue Altman is one of those scorers who will shoot any time, anywhere on the court," Greenberg said. "We have to really be aware of where she is at all times."
The Lions will be followed by Cornell on Valentine's night. The game will mark the return of former Penn assistant coach Dayna Smith. Smith is in her second year as coach of the Big Red after three seasons in Philadelphia.
While Cornell finished just 4-10 in league play last year, it has improved to 3-3 so far this season. Smith's system is very similar to the one used by Penn, but Greenberg cautioned that her former assistant will most likely have something up her sleeve.
"With coach Smith being their coach who was our assistant, they run a lot of the same things," Greenberg said. "We can't assume though. We still can't take it for granted that we know everything they do. We've gotta be ready."
Penn will not only be facing these two teams for the first time this season, it will be playing as the Ivy League frontrunner for the first time as well. The Quakers secured that distinction after wins at Harvard and Dartmouth last weekend.
But the Red and Blue seem well-equipped to deal with the added pressure that comes with being the team to beat.
"I think we'll respond well," junior guard Cat Makarewich said. "I don't think any of us are sitting here thinking that we need to defend, that we're 5-0 and we should be 5-0.
"A lot of us are still thinking that we need to prove ourselves, because a lot of people think that Harvard should be number one. Some people still think that Dartmouth is better than us. But every game's gonna be close, and we have to prove ourselves every game."
One group that has played like it has something to prove is the Quakers reserves. Since league play started, Greenberg has settled on a 10-person rotation, and every one of the reserves plays an important role.
Junior Katie Kilker and freshman Monica Naltner provide frontcourt depth. Freshman Joey Rhoads and junior Maria DiDonato are three-point specialists. But in Makarewich, the Red and Blue have the luxury of bringing in a player who has started during her career and who has adjusted very well to a new role in coming off the bench.
"The first sub off the bench needs to come in and make a difference," Makarewich said. "I want to be that spark for the team. I've been getting myself really fired up, waiting for the coach to call my name.
"And I'm actually less nervous coming off the bench. I get a couple minutes to see what other teams are doing, to see what open looks we're getting. Then when I come in, I know what to look for."
Makarewich has averaged 11.5 points over the last two games, and the Quakers have outscored the opposition's reserves in every game since Makarewich was moved to the bench.
But like everyone on this team, individual stats come second to team goals. And this weekend, the Red and Blue can put two more W's on the board, hopefully leaving the L's to the rest of us.
