Sometimes even when you play one of your best games, you lose, and when you play your worst, you almost win. For Penn, the good game came at the wrong time.
The Quakers lost both of their contests this long weekend, first falling to Marist, 59-58, and then to the No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes, 70-57.
Saturday, the Quakers (3-6) faced Marist in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in what would prove to be a heartbreaker for the Red and Blue.
The Red Foxes (3-3) took an early lead, while Penn struggled to gain its composure defensively in the first half. Marist went on a 15-4 run to go ahead 26-15 with four minutes remaining, and the Quakers struggled to recover.
Penn cut the lead to eight on a clutch three by Joey Rhoads. But once again, Penn's defense let down, and Marist took an 11-point lead into the half, 32-21.
"Defensively we were really out of sync," Penn coach Patrick Knapp said. "Particularly in the first half. In the second half we tightened up a bit."
It was in the second half that Monica Naltner started to get hot. The sophomore forward poured in a career high 17 points, including 11 in the second half. Katie Kilker scored to cut the margin to four, and then Jennifer Fleischer hit a jumper to bring the Quakers within two, 57-55.
But it would not be a day for a Penn victory. Marist center Fifi Camara, who scored 16 and added 11 rebounds, sank two clutch free throws to put Marist up by four, a lead the the Red Foxes would not relinquish.
Despite a last-second three-pointer by Naltner, Penn was defeated by a single point, 59-58.
The game was an unusually quiet one for Fleischer, Penn's center, who scored only four points and pulled down only three boards. Senior guard Karen Habrukowich picked up the slack for the junior, pulling down a career-high 10 rebounds, but it was not enough.
Marist, led by center Kristin Keller who recorded team-highs with 20 points and 14 boards, dominated the Quakers on the inside.
"They're a good team, not a great team," Knapp said. "They may win the MAAC."
If they do, four out of Penn's last five games will have been against teams that will most likely play in the NCAA Tournament, most prominently, 10th-ranked Ohio State (9-1) at the Palestra yesterday afternoon.
Penn came out hot early, holding the Buckeyes scoreless for the first four and a half minutes en route to a 9-4 lead.
Kim Wilburn's steal and easy layup put Ohio State on the board and set the tone in a game in which Penn turned the ball over 18 times resulting in 22 points for the Buckeyes.
After Penn's early success, Ohio State went on a 32-5 run that all but put the game away.
During that run, Buckeyes guard Brandie Hoskins went 6-for-9 for 13 points. Hoskins finished with 21 on the afternoon, and her stellar play, combined with the dominating inside presence of 6-foot-5 center Jessica Davenport, who blocked six shots, kept Penn out of contention for most of the game.
The Quakers, however, simply would not give in to their more athletic opponents.
"They were a scrappy team," Hoskins said.
Even after the disappointing first half, the Quakers continued to scrape away at the lead. They were led by Habrukowich, who scored 19 in the game, including 11 in the second half.
Penn also did a great job inside, outrebounding a team that featured two players over six feet tall.
"That was our best rebounding day," Knapp said. "We had to rebound, though, 'cause they'll kill you if they don't."
Penn's interior game was led by a resurgent Fleischer who, after a poor performance at Marist, grabbed nine boards to go along with 14 points and solid defensive play.
"I'm very proud of our kids," Knapp said. "They did a good job, particularly defensively."
Penn actually outscored Ohio State in the second half, 37-32, and reduced the Buckeyes' lead to eight with four minutes left after a jumper by Rhoads.
But the Quakers' inability to do the small things would ultimately cost them the game. Penn missed 12 free throws on the afternoon in a game they lost by 13.
And in the end, Ohio State was just better. Every time they needed a basket Hoskins or Davenport delivered, and Penn just couldn't keep up.
"I thought they played well," Ohio State coach Jim Foster said. "Within the framework of who they are, I thought they did a good job."
But, despite their strong effort, the Quakers suffered their fourth straight loss.
However, it's not all bad news for Penn. With four games left until conference play begins, the team has shown a resiliency and mental toughness that should serve it well in the upcoming Ivy League season.
"Good things will come," Knapp said. "I'm very proud of these kids. They're a good group and I'm confident in them."
