Quakers' chance to stand alone

The last time Penn women’s basketball played a team from Philadelphia this season, the Quakers did something never before seen in program history: They clinched a share of the Big 5 title in dramatic fashion.

Now, with the Red and Blue set to do battle against another local rival on Wednesday, the squad has the opportunity to cross another seldom achieved goal off its bucket list: beat Villanova.

Having already knocked off La Salle, St. Joseph’s and Temple, Penn (8-5) can cap an undefeated season against its Big 5 opponents with a win against the Wildcats (10-8) at the Palestra.

While the Red and Blue have secured a share of their first Big 5 championship, a win in the team’s final midweek nonconference matchup of the season gives the Quakers the title outright. On the other side, a win by Villanova would give the Wildcats a share of the title for the 15th time under coach Harry Perretta.

But if Penn is going to complete the greatest hometown feat in team history, it’s going to have to buck one of the most dominant trends in Big 5 play. Since 1974, the Quakers are a startling 2-38 against Villanova, with the Red and Blue’s only pair of victories coming in 1975 and 2001, respectively.

In fact, Penn has never beaten the Wildcats at the Palestra. Still, in the two home games against Villanova under coach Mike McLaughlin, the Quakers have only fallen by a combined nine points, including last season’s heartbreaking 48-44 loss.

But the Red and Blue enter Wednesday’s contest with a great deal of confidence. Despite falling to Princeton by 29 earlier this month, Penn has won four of its past five games, including a thrilling 49-47 victory over Richmond on Jan. 14.

Against the Spiders, the Quakers rebounded from the drubbing in their Ivy League opener, hanging tough for 39 minutes before freshman guard Anna Ross hit the biggest shot of her career — a three-pointer with just over 20 seconds left to give Penn the win.

But the Wildcats have played equally well — if not better — of late. Villanova has lost only once in the past month, winning seven of its past eight games including a 15-point win over Temple on Dec. 22 to begin the hot streak.

Despite bolstering a strong frontcourt of its own, Penn will have to contend with Wildcats’ senior center Emily Leer in the paint on Wednesday. The Glenside, Pa., native is Villanova’s leading scorer this season, averaging 13.3 points per game — bolstered by 41 percent shooting from beyond the arc — to go along with 3.4 boards per contest.

Though less of a threat from deep, the Red and Blue’s sophomore center Sydney Stipanovich could give the Wildcats plenty of trouble down low. The defending Ivy League Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year is coming off a 19-point, 13-rebound performance against Richmond, one which earned her Ivy Player of the Week honors.

The difference in the game may come down to the two squads’ backcourts. While Ross and fellow freshman guard Beth Brzozowski have stabilized the point guard position for the Quakers, Villanova junior guard Caroline Coyer is averaging 11.7 points per game and has notched 80 assists this season.

For Penn, the game will likely come down to the squad’s defensive prowess. Other than the team’s losses to powerhouses Tennessee and Princeton, the Red and Blue have only given up 60 or more points three times this season, losing two of those contests.

If the Quakers can lock down the Wildcats’ offensive weapons, there will be more cause for celebration than just another Big 5 win. By the end of the night, Penn could rule Philadelphia like never before, continuing a run of dominance unmatched by any Big 5 stretch in team history.

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