The Quakers punch their ticket to the big dance.
March 5, 2004
PHILADELPHIA - Penn captures its second Ivy title ever with a decisive
78-61 win over Dartmouth at The Palestra. It is the second title under
Head Coach Kelly Greenberg as well as seniors, Jewel Clark and Mikaelyn
Austin. Penn is the first team to enter into this season's NCAA Tournament
field of 64.
Both teams opened game a little tight, as Dartmouth did not hit a field
goal
until an Ashley Taylor three-pointer at the 17:39 and the Quakers followed
up
with a field goal from senior guard Mikaelyn Austin at the 16:26 mark.
Austin
finished the first half with five points on 2-for-7 shooting.
Penn took its first lead, 8-6, on a Karen Habrukowich trey at the 13:21
mark
of the first half after Amanda Kammes blocked a three-point attempt by
Jeannie Cullen. The Quakers expanded the lead to six, 19-13, on a pair of
threes from Austin and Cat Makarewich. But the Big Green went on a 7-2 run
to pull within one, 21-20. Angie Soriaga capped the run with a baseline
jumper. The Red and Blue answered with a Jewel Clark lay up with 4:08
remaining.
The Quakers took a nine-point, 34-25, lead into the half as Habrukowich
led
all scorers in the first half with 10 points on 2-for-5 shooting from the
field and 5-for-6 from the free-throw line, and finished with 15 for the
game. Taylor led Dartmouth with seven points on a perfect 2-for-2 from the
field and 1-for-1 from the charity stripe.
The Quakers quickly expanded the lead to 12 points, 45-33, when Joey
Rhoads
stole the ball from Soriaga at half court and drove in for an uncontested
lay up at the 14:48 mark. Rhoads finished with 12 points off the bench as
well as three steals, two assists and no steals.
Dartmouth pulled to within five points, 47-42, at the 11:55 mark on a pair
of Elise Morrison free throws. Morrison finished with 19 points and 11
boards
to lead the Big Green. Penn answered immediately with a 10-0 run that
spanned
three minute - 34 seconds. Clark, who finished as the game's high scorer
with
23 points to go along with 14 rebounds, capped the run with a foul-line
jumper and a lay up on the next possession to make the score 57-42 with
8:19
left on the clock. Clark's double-double is the 29th of her career and the
senior now sits at 520 points for the season, seventh all-time, and 1,709
for
her career.
The Quakers (17-9, 11-2 Ivy) close out the regular season at The Palestra
on
Saturday against Harvard. Tip off is at 8 p.m.
Written by Mat Kanan, associate director of athletic communications
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