When the women's basketball team faces Saint Joseph's tonight at the Palestra, recent history will not be on Penn's side.
Even though the Quakers (0-3) haven't defeated the Hawks since 2004-05 - and are just 1-32 against them all-time - and none of the players on this year's squad has experienced a Big 5 win, Penn coach Pat Knapp hasn't talked to his team about its past struggles.
"Negative statistics don't have a place in our preparation," Knapp said. "Obviously you can quote any stats you want, but we don't approach it that way."
Outside of the numbers from a close loss to Villanova last week, most of those stats aren't pretty. The Quakers allowed 22 offensive rebounds, coughed up 25 turnovers and shot 1-for-17 from beyond the arc against Duquesne on Saturday.
"Those rebounding and turnover stats need to be in our favor by the end of this game," Knapp said. "If they are, we can win."
Knapp believes that St. Joe's (1-2) is a better team than Villanova, so this game will be another big challenge. The Hawks' lone win came against Lehigh, which defeated Penn by 31 points in the Quakers' season opener.
"Villanova, although successful at what they do, clearly doesn't plan to pound it inside on you," Knapp said. "St. Joe's will, as well as have some of their three-point shooters like [senior Jenna Loschiavo] . stretch the floor."
Last year, Penn held Loschiavo to only five points and limited the Hawks to four three-point field goals. But sophomore center Sarah Ecker - a first-team Big 5 selection last season - tore the Red and Blue apart for 16 points and six offensive rebounds in only 21 minutes.
"We stick to a gameplan, but if there's an inside presence there, there's going to be more of a focus on boxing out and making sure there's a body on that girl," senior guard Kelly Scott said.
Though the Quakers rely on a guard-heavy lineup, both Scott and senior forward Katarina Lackner don't think size will affect their rebounding ability.
"Boxing out has nothing to do with size," Lackner said. "I think our guards are great at being scrappy and getting the rebounds because a lot of it is just being quick and going after it."
Tonight, Penn will need to replicate the intensity and defensive effort it showed against Villanova, when the Quakers relinquished only 14 turnovers. In their other two losses, the Red and Blue have turned the ball over a combined 49 times.
"We just need to talk and take care of the ball," Lackner said. "We can't have mental lapses and miscommunication."
Scott said the seniors want a Big 5 win even more now after coming so close against Villanova.
Inevitably, the unlucky streak must end. The Quakers can only hope it comes sooner rather than later.
"What we have talked about with this team at length is the season is a marathon, not a sprint," Knapp said.
"Whether it's St. Joe's, Temple, La Salle or Drexel, we're going to get one. We intend to get more than one."
