Lehigh Game Notes as a PDF
Penn begins the 2006-07 season with a familiar opponent, in-state rival Lehigh. The game is set for 7 p.m. at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pa. This is the Head Coach Patrick Knapp's third season with the Quakers.
The game can be heard on WXPN (88.5 FM) and WLVR (91.3 FM) and worldwide on PennAthletics.com and lehighsports.com. Brian Seltzer will provide play-by-play for WXPN with Penn associate director of athletics Mary DiStanislao on color. Penn will play two games on the road this week before hosting its home opener in a Big 5 match-up against La Salle next Tuesday, Nov. 21 at The Palestra. Penn has not started on the road since the 2003-04 season. This is the 28th meeting for Penn and Lehigh. The Red and Blue leads the series 16-11. Penn has won the last six meetings, but are 5-7 when playing at Lehigh. Penn is 42-38 against teams currently in the Patriot League. Besides a demanding non-league slate and the always tough Ivy League competition, this season's schedule features two 2006 NCAA Tournament competitors. City rival Temple and Ivy tri-champion Dartmouth both made appearances in the postseason last year. Penn hosts 13 games at The Palestra including three Big 5 contests and a full slate of seven Ivy games. Averaging just less than 270 points a season, and holding 805 career points, senior tri-captain
Joey Rhoads could be the 17th Quaker to eclipse 1,000 points. Coach Knapp had this to say about his senior floor marshal:
"Joey's stats speak for themselves. Joey is a playmaker. She is our scorer, our leader on the floor and might be the most complete player in the Ivy League."
Lauren Pears missed the majority of the 2005?06 season with a knee injury, but started all eight games and ranked among the team leaders in every statistical category prior to her injury.
Coach Knapp said, "Lauren is a real emotional spark for our team, and when she is ready to play she will be one of our best defensive players. She's got good perimeter speed and a very aggressive defense."
Monica Naltner served with Rhoads and the now-graduated
Henley Hansen (C'06) as the 2005?06 tri-captains and retains that role for the 2006?07 campaign. Naltner was hampered with injury throughout the season, but still managed to put up 238 points and nab 99 boards, good for second on the team.
Coach Knapp predicted, "
Monica Naltner is poised for her best season yet. We'd like Monica to get into a position where she is a double-figure scorer on a regular basis. She is a very experienced component of our strategy." The fourth senior on Penn's roster is
Ashley Gray, who has quickness around the basket and good ball skills.
Coach Knapp said, "She is an athlete who can cause people some problems in the Ivy League. She is always quick to the ball, quick to the basket and a very strong rebounder." Penn has just two juniors on the roster this season?guards
Kimberly Franklin and Brilynne Parrish. Franklin clocked an average of 19 minutes last season and took the ball to the basket for 78 points. Parrish played in 15 games last season and pulled down 26 rebounds with her aggressive play.
The Quakers welcome back a large six-member sophomore class. Coach Knapp said, "This sophomore class got a lot of experience last season and they are smarter and hungrier this year. They should be poised to jump to another level." An aggressive player,
Carrie Biemer showed promise last season producing 95 points and 39 boards in 25 games. Penn will look to her for some more offense this season. Another player Penn will look to for scoring is
Kelly Scott, who started 13 games last season and contributed 107 points.
With a strong knowledge of the offense and excellent passing skills,
Maggie Burgess' communication skills on the court will help the Quakers stay together. At 6-2,
Katarina Lackner has the height, which combined with solid footwork make her a threat in the post, inside and out.
Anca Popovici did not clock many minutes last season but showed promise as a ball-handler with good defensive skills. A new addition to that class is transfer
Sarah Bucar. Though she will practice with the team, Bucar will not compete during the 2006?07 season in compliance with NCAA regulations. Initially recruited by Coach Knapp at Georgetown, Bucar opted to attend West Virginia after Knapp left Georgetown. After averaging 14.1 minutes a game as back-up to WVU's Ashley Powell?one of the nation's top freshmen last season?Bucar will take a season to learn Penn's system and become a game contributor in the 2007?08 season. Hailing from the far stretches of the country, Penn welcomes this year's freshmen?
Amy Donovan (Battle Ground, Wash.),
Carolyn Miller (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.),
Caitlin Slover (Southampton, Pa.) and Rachel Williams (Miami, Fla.).
Scouting Lehigh...
Lehigh garnered 48 points in the Patriot League preseason poll. Senior Adrienne Blount was named to the preseason all-league team. Sophomore Melissa Rich and Blount were named to the Patriot League honorable mention. Rich earned her first collegiate start against LIU and tallied a team-high 12 points. She shot 62.5 percent from the field (5-for-8) and was a perfect 2-for-2 at the free throw line. Blount almost had a double-double with 10 points and a game-best nine rebounds.
Download: WBB_11-13-06.pdf
