W. Hoops | Duking it out with Duquesne

When the women's basketball team travels to Duquesne on Saturday, most of the Quakers will be squaring off against the Dukes for the first time. But junior guard Sarah Bucar, a Pittsburgh native, will be more than familiar with her next opponents.

"I played with those girls all summer," Bucar said. "Two of my best friends are on the team. So I just told them: 'It's personal.'"

Duquesne is off to a dominating 3-0 start on the strength of an offense scoring over 80 points per game. Five players are averaging double figures.

By comparison, the Quakers have averaged only 47.5 points per game, which means they'll need either a repeat of Tuesday's excellent defensive performance against Villanova or a sudden offensive surge.

And on Sunday, Duquesne obliterated Cornell - the 2006-07 Ivy champion - 93-49.

"They were talking about it, I got calls after," Bucar said. "But we're not afraid."

On the other hand, Penn coach Pat Knapp - who as of Wednesday had not viewed the advance scouting tape on Duquesne - was surprised to learn that the Dukes had crushed the Big Red so handily.

Knapp said that senior Katarina Lackner, who is also from Pittsburgh and played only one minute against Villanova, would see much more action matching up against Duquesne's physical inside players.

"We're probably not going to have the advantage there," Knapp said. "But other than that, we're going to get prepared the best we can."

The Quakers will miss the presence of sophomore guard Kim Adams, who left the team on Monday. Bucar said on Wednesday that she had not yet spoken personally to Adams about the decision.

Though Penn's fourth roster casualty since the end of last year may take a further toll on the team as the season progresses, younger Quakers may see the benefits of some added experience.

"I think it's an opportunity for us to step up and fill those slots," freshman Tyler Cumbo said.

Penn will also need its remaining upperclassmen to produce, as they did for the most part against Villanova. To defeat the Dukes, however, the Red and Blue will likely need a better performance from Carrie Biemer, who shot 3-for-14 with seven turnovers on Wednesday.

Knapp said there is always a difference facing an unfamiliar opponent, but he worked to schedule this game to give Bucar and Lackner the chance to play in their home city.

"I know a lot my friends and family will be there," Bucar said. "I played in that gym for a conference championship, so I'm very excited."

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