Jan. 31, 2007
GAME INFO:
Yale (10-8, 3-1 Ivy) at Princeton (8-9, 2-1 Ivy)
Friday, Feb. 2, 2007-7 p.m.
Jadwin Gym-Princeton, N.J.
TV/Webcast: Patriot 8, goprincetontigers.com: Keith Irizarry and Lou Brogno
Radio/Internet: goprincetontigers.com: John Sadak
GAME INFO:
Yale (10-8, 3-1 Ivy) at Penn (6-10, 1-2 Ivy)
Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007-7 p.m.
The Palestra-Philadelphia, Pa.
Webcast: pennathletics.com
Radio/Internet: pennathletics.com: Chris Zervoudis
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Bulldogs hit the road for Princeton/Penn weekend after completing a sweep of Harvard and Dartmouth for the first time since the 1993-94 season. Yale sits in second place with a 3-1 Ivy League record (10-8 overall). Princeton, which has had 19 days off for exams, is right behind the Bulldogs with a 2-1 conference mark (8-9 overall). After winning only five games in 2005-06, Penn is 6-10 this season, 1-2 in the Ivy League. Friday night's game marks the first time this season the Bulldogs will be televised. Patriot 8 will carry the game regionally in the Princeton area with Keith Irizarry and Lou Brogno calling the action.
SERIES HISTORY
This is the 64th all-time meeting between Yale and Princeton, tying Princeton with Brown as the Bulldogs' most common opponent. The Tigers hold a 37-26 edge in the series and have won four straight. The Bulldogs' last win over Princeton was a 59-56 overtime victory on Feb. 20, 2004. The last time Yale won at Jadwin Gym was also in overtime, an 85-80 result on Feb. 9, 2002.
Yale and Penn have played 60 times. The Bulldogs lead the series 31-29. The squads split last year's meetings, with each team winning on its home floor. Yale posted a 53-52 victory in New Haven, and the Quakers notched a 65-48 win at the Palestra. Yale's last win in Philadelphia came on Feb. 19, 2005, a 74-64 overtime decision.
LAST TIME OUT
Stephanie Marciano came up big, leading the Bulldogs to a sweep of Harvard and Dartmouth. Marciano had 16 points against the Crimson, including a clutch three-pointer as the shot clock expired with under a minute left that sealed the 61-53 victory. She was even better on Saturday night, posting a career-high 22 points in a 63-56 win over Dartmouth. With the Bulldogs trailing 50-48 and 3:20 remaining in the contest, Marciano sank a trey while falling down in front of the Yale bench to give her team a lead it wouldn't relinquish. She drained another trey on Yale's next possession to seal the Big Green's fate. Erica Davis also had a big weekend, notching 19 points, nine rebounds and four blocks against Harvard, and 10 points and nine boards against Dartmouth. Jamie Van Horne had 14 points and tied a career-high with four assists in Saturday night's victory.
BULLDOG BYTES
The Bulldogs, winners of eight of their last nine, enter this weekend with a 10-8 record. Yale leads the Ivy League in seven team categories, and Bulldogs lead seven of the 12 individual categories, as well. Senior center Erica Davis tops the Ivy League in field goal percentage, blocks and defensive rebounds. She is also second in rebounding (9.0 rpg), behind teammate Chinenye Okafor (9.4 rpg), and fifth in scoring (15.2 ppg). Okafor also leads the conference with 2.3 steals per game and 4.4 offensive rebounds per game. She is tied for second on the team in scoring with freshman guard Melissa Colborne (10.8 ppg). Junior guard Stephanie Marciano has the best assist/turnover ratio in the Ivy League (1.49), and is second in the conference with 4.4 assists per game.
TIGER TRACKS
Preseason Ivy League favorite Princeton has had 19 days off since a 70-66 home loss to Cornell on Jan. 13. The Tigers boast the Ivy League's leading scorer in Meagan Cowher, who is averaging 19.0 points per game. The junior forward has averaged nearly 30 points in Princeton's three conference games. She is also fourth in the League with 7.6 rebounds a contest and second with a field goal percentage of .498. Senior forward Casey Lockwood tallies 10.1 ppg, and sophomore guard Jessica Berry leads the team with 3.4 assists per game.
QUAKER QUIPS
Penn has the dynamic one-two punch of senior forward Monica Naltner and senior guard Joey Rhoads. Naltner is third in the Ivy League in scoring (17.2 ppg) and fifth in rebounding (6.8 rpg). Rhoads is fourth in scoring (16.7 ppg), sixth in assists (3.4 apg), and second in assist/turnover ratio (1.45). Senior guard Lauren Pears has also been a solid contributor for the Quakers. She is third in the Ivy League in assists (4.2 apg), second in steals (2.3 spg), and third in assist/turnover ratio (1.34). Penn has used the same starting lineup in all but one game this season.