Courtesy: University of Pennsylvania
Release: 11/18/2004
Game 1
Penn (0-0) vs. Northeastern (0-1)
Philadelphia, Pa. - The Palestra
Nov. 21, 2004
1 p.m.
Series: Northeastern 2, Penn 0
Game Notes: Game 1 - Penn v. Northeastern
Tip-Off Time - Penn women's basketball begins its run for a
second-straight Ivy League title with a pair of home contests before
heading west for Thanksgiving. The Quakers host Northeastern today,
followed by La Salle on Nov. 23 and then the 18th Annual Coors Classic
at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo. The Red and Blue return
eight letter winners and three starters from a squad that finished the
regular season 17-10 overall and 11-3 in the Ancient Eight en route to
the championship.
Official Welcome - Head Coach Patrick Knapp receives his official
welcome on Sunday by coaching his first game in The Palestra at the helm
of the Quakers. Knapp joins the Penn family after 18 seasons with
Georgetown. He led the Hoyas to two Big East championships and was
named the Big East Conference Coach of the Year for the 1992-93 season.
Knapp has been preparing the squad since the day he stepped onto campus
and all who follow women's hoops at Penn is excited for his tenure to
begin.
Second Time To the Dance - Penn earned its second trip to the NCAA
Tournament in 2004, winning its second Ivy League title in four years.
The Quakers' first trip to the dance was in 2001 when they faced Texas
Tech in the first round. This past season, the Red and Blue stepped on
the court against eventual three-time national champions Connecticut.
Nothing NU To Us - Today's match-up with Northeastern will be the third
meeting between the two programs in the past five years. The Huskies
hold a 2-0 advantage in the series, including a 78-69 win at Solomon
Court on Jan. 3, 2004. The first meeting between Penn and Northeastern
came on Dec. 2, 2000 and resulted in a 80-78 double-overtime win for the
Huskies.
On Your Guard - Penn enters this season deeper at the guard position
than it has been in quite some time. Nine of the 17 team members are at
the guard position - four seniors, two sophomores and three freshmen.
Top Gun - Karen Habrukowich is the Red and Blue's top-returning scorer.
The senior averaged just under 10 points per game (9.6 ppg) during
2003-04. Habrukowich, one of five captains along with Class of '05
teammates Maria DiDonato, Katie Kilker, Cat Makarewich and Amanda
Kammes, recorded 10 games with double digits in the scoring column,
including a season-high 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting against Cornell
(Feb. 14, 2004). Coincidentally, her first game with 10 or more points
came against Northeastern. Habrukowich had 10 points (3-of-8) and two
assists.
Home Openers - The Quakers are 12-9 when opening the season at The
Palestra. Penn's last home opener was a 78-71 loss to Temple on Nov.
22, 2002. The Red and Blue's last victory at the storied arena was a
79-50 win over Temple on Nov. 20, 1999.
Everyone Is On Board - Jennifer Fleischer was Penn's top rebounder in
2003-04, averaging 9.6 boards per game. The junior center pulled down a
career-high 18 caroms against Columbia (Feb. 13, 2004) at The Palestra.
Let It Be From Three - Penn ranked in the top-four in the Ivy League in
both three-point field goals per game and three-point percentage. The
Quakers took 6.8 shots from long range (fourth) for a 35.2 percentage
(third). Seniors Karen Habrukowich and Cat Makarewich led the Red and
Blue from outside, shooting 43 and 42 percent, respectively. Sophomore
guard Joey Rhoads hoisted 96 three-point shots, making 37 (39 percent).
Toe That Line - Joey Rhoads finished the 2003 season as Penn's leader at
the foul line. The then-freshman was 21-for-26 from the charity stripe
(81 percent).
A Little Respect - The Quakers ranked in the top-50 nationally in three
statistical categories at season's end. Penn was 46th in three-point
percentage (35 percent), 30th in turnovers per game (15.0) and 26th in
three-point field goals per game (6.8).
Nationally Known - Jennifer Fleischer finished her sophomore campaign
ranked in the top-40 in the country in rebounding. The New Harford,
N.Y. native averaged 9.6 boards per game, which was also good enough to
rank second in the Ivy League. Fleischer also ranked fifth in the
Ancient Eight in blocks per game (1.4).
Pointed in the Right Direction - Senior point guard Amanda Kammes had a
career-high 10 assists as a starter last season. She set her career
mark against Drexel on Jan. 13, 2004 and matched it in a 71-58 road
victory at Dartmouth on Feb. 7, 2004. Kammes finished the season ranked
fourth in the Ivy League with 3.5 helpers per game.
Captains, Oh My Captains - The Class of 2005 consists of Maria DiDonato,
Karen Habrukowich, Amanda Kammes, Katie Kilker and Cat Makarewich. All
five have been named captains for the 2004-05 season. The Class of '05
has an overall record of 44-38 (.537), a 28-14 (.667) mark in the
Ancient Eight and two League titles under their belt.
Back For More - Penn returns 14 student-athletes and eight letterwinners
from last season's championship squad. Along with the talented core of
seniors, the Quakers also return juniors Henley Hansen, Jenna Markoff,
Rachel Wilson (who missed all of 2003-04 due to injury), Teresa Fallon
and All-Ivy center Jennifer Fleischer. The Class of 2007 is lead by Ivy
League All-Rookie selection Joey Rhoads as well as Monica Naltner,
Ashley Gray and Lauren Pears.
Fresh Faces - Three newcomers join the Quakers in 2004-05. Guards
Andrea Wright, Brilynne Parrish and Kimberly Franklin will look to leave
their mark on this year's team as the previous crops of rookies have
done before them.
Penn Picked Third - The Red and Blue were picked to finish this season
third in the Ivy League in the preseason media poll, earning 99 overall
votes and two first-place tallies. Dartmouth is the preseason favorite,
garnering 114 overall and nine of the possible 16 first-place votes.
Listen to Penn Hoops - Listen to Penn women's basketball on the radio
and online. The Quakers have three games broadcast on XPN - 88.5 FM
this season. The Red and Blue also have several contests that will air
LIVE on www.pennathletics.com.
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