Ivy League Sports

University of Pennsylvania Athletic Communications

Five seniors leave and six freshmen fill in behind them. That is the situation for the Penn women’s basketball team in 2005-06. The need to replace a collective 25.7 points per game, including the program’s sixth-most prolific scorer and the team’s floor general, is coupled with two simple facts – three of five starters have graduated and there are as many freshmen on the team as there are seniors. On the surface, it may look as if the Quakers have a huge challenge in front of them. This may be true, but the upcoming campaign also gives the Red and Blue a chance for true success.

It is evident that Penn will need to replace offensive output with the likes of Karen Habrukowich (13.1 ppg) and Cat Makarewich (.424 three-point pct.) no longer donning the Red and Blue. Second-year coach Patrick Knapp and his staff are looking for that offensive output and leadership not only from their five seniors, but also a corps of leaders sprinkled throughout each academic class.

Joey Rhoads leads a talented junior class onto the court in 2005-06. Her aggressive play with the ball and tenacious defense will only solidify her leadership role on this year’s squad. She will play the point, but will also see time at the shooting-guard spot. Rhoads takes over for the graduated Amanda Kammes who led the Quakers last season with 103 assists. Rhoads, a native of Huntingdon Valley, Pa. and a graduate of Germantown Academy, proved she can come through in a starting role in three games in 2004-05.

Starting against Marist, Yale and Princeton, Rhoads scored 11, 16 and 15 points, respectively, an average of 14.0 points per game. More importantly, she dished 14 assists.

“Joey is our leader on the court. She has brought, and will continue to bring, offensive and defensive improvement to the team,” commented Knapp.

Rhoads is part of a very talented junior class, which also includes Lauren Pears, Ashley Gray and Monica Naltner. As freshmen, these four logged a combined 830 minutes of court time. As sophomores, the quartet amassed a combined 1,907 minutes, a 129-percent increase. In the simplest of terms – these players have the skill, drive and experience to lead the Red and Blue in 2005-06.

Pears will continue to log heavy minutes at the guard position this year. The Mechanicsburg, Pa. native has made tremendous strides during the off-season. In doing so, she has complemented her already excellent defensive skills with a more crisp offensive game from mid-range and the outside. Pears made her presence felt on defense last year, leading the Red and Blue in steals on four occasions and finished the season with 16.

Naltner will lead at the forward position. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native started all but one game in 2004-05 and recorded her first career double-double in a 51-50 win at Cornell on February 12. Naltner provides a dominating and aggressive presence on the court, whether the Quakers have the ball or are trying to get it back. She has improved her already solid offensive skills with a more accurate shot from 15 feet and beyond the three-point line. Naltner averaged 8.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last year and will look to raise both averages in 2005-06.

Gray will likely play at the four position, one of two forwards on the floor. She saw action in 17 games during her sophomore campaign. Gray scored a career-high six points against Dartmouth and grabbed a career-high six boards against Princeton.

“Ashley is a very good cutting and slashing player. Putting her at the four spot will provide a great mix and match with Monica this season,” commented Knapp.

Naltner and Gray will have leadership with them and behind them this season, as Teresa Fallon and Rachel Wilson should provide key support at the three and four positions. Both are capable leaders on and off the court; Knapp believes they may be the best leaders on the team. Fallon has been working on her defensive movement and her scoring output, while Wilson made vast improvements on offense during her junior season after missing her entire sophomore campaign with a knee injury.

The center position will again be controlled by Jennifer Fleischer. The powerful post player is coming off an All-Big 5 performance during the 2004-05 season and is poised to put her mark on the Penn record book. Fleischer is sitting just outside the top-five all-time in rebounding with 598 career caroms. The senior from New Hartford, N.Y. is also just three blocks from passing former teammate Jewel Clark for third on the all-time list. Fleischer currently has 80 career swats.

Fleischer did not rest on last season’s production over the summer, despite being the only Ivy League player to average a double-double for the season with 10.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Instead, she was one of 21 current and former Penn student-athletes to participate in the 17th Annual Maccabiah Games held in Israel. Fleischer led the USA Women’s Basketball Team to the gold medal with a 78-53 win over Israel in the championship game. Fleischer recorded a double-double in that game, amassing 20 points and 18 rebounds. After her performance in the tournament, where the United States team went undefeated, Fleischer spent the remainder of her summer playing with the Israeli national team.

“Fleisch’s rebounding speaks for itself. Her additional ability to be aware of the double teams that are going to come at her, and the vision to pass out of those double teams, will only strengthen her already dominating presence under the basket,” praised Knapp.

Fleischer averaged 35.2 minutes per game as a junior, so there will be a need for solid support when she comes to the bench. This is where Henley Hansen steps in. Hansen has a fluid shot and has worked on improving her defensive mobility during the off-season. She will look to battle with the Ivy League’s and Big 5’s low-post players throughout the upcoming year.

Penn’s schedule continues to test the team’s resolve, with the likes of NCAA power Temple and Rice on the docket, as well as Washington and Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) regular-season champion Marist. Four members of the Patriot League will tip it off against the Quakers in 2005-06, as well. All this, and Penn still needs to face seven highly competitive and talented Ivy teams, not once but twice. The entire League has improved throughout and there is no longer a top and bottom group of teams.

Penn has the experience at all positions to have success in 2005-06. A tough non-conference schedule will prepare the Red and Blue for the grueling Friday-Saturday format of the Ivy League. Capturing the program’s third title in six years will be a challenge, but the Penn women’s basketball team would not have it any other way.