Twenty minutes into its first game of 2005, the Penn women's basketball team seemed to have not yet shaken off the effects of the past week's holiday celebrations. After that, though, the Quakers set off a serious display of offensive fireworks.
Trailing the host Rider Broncs, 30-28, at halftime, Penn junior center Jennifer Fleischer led a ferocious rally in the second half, ending in a 74-57 victory for the Red and Blue.
"We knew we didn't come back from the break early to play the way we were playing," said Fleischer, who scored a career-high 22 points in the game. "We just knew we had to play our game."
Both teams shot fairly well in the first half. Penn (5-6) made 42.3 percent of its field goals, while Rider (2-9) shot 41.7 percent but took two fewer shots. But while the Broncs were able to hold Penn to only one made three-pointer, by Joey Rhoads, in that span, the main reason for the Quakers' early offensive jitters was the combined 18 fouls between the two teams. Penn committed ten of them, including three in four minutes by senior guard Karen Habrukowich.
"I told them we were fouling too much-- back off [and] play defense with their feet," Penn coach Patrick Knapp said. "Fouling stops momentum."
Knapp's players certainly heeded his advice. They shot 61.5 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from three-point range in the second half, blitzing Rider, 46-27, in that span. Penn clamped down on defense as well, holding the Broncs to only 29.4 percent shooting from the field and committing only five fouls.
"We knew if we played our game, things would work out," Fleischer said. She scored 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds in the second half, finishing with a game-high 16 boards.
"If we rebound and defend, we can get the ball and go," Knapp said.
Three other Quakers finished the game in double figures in scoring. Senior center Katie Kilker and sophomore forward had 10 points each, while Habrukowich had 13 points. Senior guard Cat Makarewich had a game-high seven assists.
Guard Becky Bower led Rider with 22 points, while forward Leanne Moore had ten points and ten rebounds.
Penn's next game is Monday, Jan. 10, at Lafayette.
