Ivy Women’s Preview

What a difference a year makes. Dartmouth, the upstart Ivy League favorite, sits atop the preseason standings, a spot Harvard had been accustomed to occupying. The Crimson hopes to extend similar courtesy to the Big Green. In the second slot, the squad certainly has the talent to do so. Surprise defending champion Penn and Brown round out the top four. But don’t look twice–sleeping giants await in New Haven.

No. 1 DARTMOUTH

Last Year’s Record : 15-12 (8-6)

A youthful, balanced squad, the Big Green won’t be taking anyone by surprise this year. After shocking Harvard in its league opener last year in overtime, ending the Crimson’s 26-game Ivy win streak, Dartmouth had everybody’s attention. With two freshmen and two sophomores in the starting five, inexperience plagued the squad as the season wore on. The good news for the Big Green is that all four of those players, who were each awarded All-Ivy honors, return to Hanover. Headlining the team is sophomore center Elise Morrison, the Rookie of the Year, who was in the top five in the Ivies in scoring (17.6), rebounding (7.7) and blocks (2.5).

No. 3 PENN

Last Year’s Record: 17-11 (11-3)

The key to this team is not who is here, but who has left. Gone is Ivy Player of the Year Jewel Clark and head coach Kelly Greenberg. After 18 years in D.C., Pat Knapp left Georgetown to take the helm of the Quakers, and will have a solid, if lackluster, backcourt at his disposal. Junior Jennifer Fleischer was featured in the Nov. 11 issue of SI On Campus as a “glue gal,” or a player that does the little things to bind her team. She may be a “glue gal,” but at this point it’s hard to see what she’ll be holding together.

No. 4 BROWN

Last Year’s Record : 16-11 (9-5)

Brown tied Harvard last season for second in the League, and will again have to be dealt with. There will be a distinct offensive void following the graduation of guards Nyema Mitchell and Tanara Goldston, first- and second-team Ivy picks, respectively. Senior 6’5 center Holly Robertson had 11 points and 6.6 boards a game in 22 minutes of action last year, and will have the chance to step up as the No. 1 scoring option. In the backcourt, junior Sarah Hayes is a capable floor general, and was among league leaders in steals, and remarkably, boards. The Bears always are stellar defending, and tough team defense doesn’t graduate.

No. 5 YALE

Last Year’s Record : 8-19 (5-9)

Loaded with frontcourt talent, the Bulldogs appear ready to make the leap this season—onto the back of 6’3 sophomore Erica Davis, who could become a monster in the Ivy League. As a freshman, Davis led the Elis in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, despite starting roughly half of the team’s games. Yale’s senior trio of 5’11 swingman Tory Mauseth, 6’1 forward Lindsay Page and 5’10 captain Morgan Richards add height and experience to a starting lineup that has plenty of the former and needs more of the latter. Nine sophomores and freshmen round out the roster, including 6’4 twin towers Julie Mantilla and Sarah Zoubek and 6’3 freshman Sarah McCollum. Guards? Who needs guards?

No. 6 COLUMBIA

Last Year’s Record : 12-14 (6-8)

Columbia finds itself in a similar situation as Penn, having lost both its franchise player and head coach. While there is no doubt that the graduation of First-Team All-Ivy guard Sue Altman will hurt the Lions, new coach Traci Waites might bring a breath of fresh air into a program that at times has shown promise. Waites, Big East Co-Coach of the Year in 1999-2000 while at Pitt, inherets a team that returns six seniors. Unfortunately for her, none are particularly distinguished. Of these, guards Nicole Lesko and Susan Kern will see plenty of time running the floor, and forwards Erin Jaschik and Adia Revell both have the chance to contribute with defense and rebounding.

No. 7 PRINCETON

Last Year’s Record : 7-20 (4-10)

Princeton coach Richard Barron returns all five starters and welcomes a healthy recruiting class to a team that finished seventh in the Ivy League last season. The Tigers were bad in 2003-2004. But with a tricky style of play—“his system is different enough that it always will cause you headaches,” Harvard coach Kathy Delaney-Smith said—and the return of junior post star Becky Brown, Princeton has a chance to improve. Casey Lockwood and Katy Digovich, sophomores who both averaged double-figures in 2003-04, complement a loaded frontcourt. Katy O’Brien and Ali Smith, who share captains’ duties with Lockwood, man the guard positions. With three freshmen standouts standing by, Princeton’s future prospects look decent for the first time in years.

No. 8 CORNELL

Last Year’s Record : 9-18 (4-10)

Cornell finished the 2003-2004 season in need of relief. The Big Red dropped seven of their final eight games, including a 68-55 drubbing by Harvard on Feb. 21. Now for the hard part: recovering from the nasty hangover of six graduated seniors, including all five starters. One of those, Karen Force, a two-time All-Ivy selection and one of the most prolific scorers in Cornell history, will return as an assistant coach. Junior captains Sarah Brown and Hillary Seidel will man the Big Red backcourt, and fellow captain Brittani Rettig will anchor the post. Unfortunately for Cornell, the captains can claim only one career start among them. And with a roster featuring zero seniors and six newcomers, headaches should come easy in Ithaca, N.Y.