The men's team (4-14, 2-2 Ivy) heads into the weekend doubleheader coming off its first win over the University of the Pennsylvania in 12 years last Saturday in Leede Arena.
A three-point play from Dan Biber '09 with eight seconds left in regulation capped off a last-minute Dartmouth rally that edged out a win over the Quakers 63-60 at Leede Arena.
Climbing to the middle of the pack in the league standings, the men's squad will attempt to win consecutive games for the first time this season, as the Big Green faces Ivy rivals Brown and Yale for its last homestand before a two-week roadtrip.
"I think in the last decade, we have not have been in the top of the league, and people overlooked us," Robby Pride '10 said.
Though Brown and Yale come into Hanover carrying consecutive losses, both teams swept the season series against the Big Green last year.
Against the Bulldogs, Dartmouth will try to take away offensive second chances by limiting Yale's offensive boards.
Against the Bears, the Big Green men will look to stifle forward Matt Mullery. The junior is currently averaging 15.7 points per game and leads the league with a 59.0 field goal percentage.
Throughout the season, the Big Green has struggled with containing opponents' long-range efficiency.
After last week's intense defensive matchups with Princeton and Penn, the Big Green seeks to continue improving its perimeter pressure by pressing on the wings and forcing low-percentage shots.
"Last week, we had a hangover after the Harvard game," Pride said. "We need to stay focused throughout the weekend and throughout each 40 minutes."
Dartmouth also looks to the bench for a consistent and balanced offensive attack. Although the Big Green is anchored by the Ivy League scoring leader, Alex Barnett '09, Dartmouth has seen significant contributions from rookies David Rufful '12 and Josh Riddle '12, both of whom posted crucial points against Penn in Dartmouth's winning effort.
"We got a lot of guys who can play," Pride said, "We don't rely on one guy."
The women's team (8-9, 3-0 Ivy) heads into this weekend's action carrying impressive wins on the road, including a 71-67 overtime victory at Princeton that marked its fifth consecutive win and the program's 500th win all-time.
Despite a slow start in non-conference play, the Big Green women have proven to be a formidable presence in the Ivy League, outmatching and outlasting their opponents with experience and game-time poise.
The squad will look to continue its Ivy success in road games against Brown and Yale. Dartmouth leads both the Bears and the Bulldogs in the all-time series, 44-19 and 48-14, respectively.
For the upcoming weekend doubleheader, the Big Green will try to cast off the specter of overconfidence by remaining consistent on both ends of the court.
"Yale's a really good team and so is Brown," Brittney Smith '11 said. "I don't think any of the games are going to come easy."
Offensively, the Big Green wields a balanced attack that often keeps opponents on their heels.
With both Brittney Smith '11 and Koren Schram '09 averaging double-digits in scoring, the team will try to attack the basket with smooth ball transitions into the paint.
Schram, who was recently named a top-ten finalist for the 08-09 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, also poses a threat from long range that adds depth to the Big Green's offensive strategy.
Defense has also proven to be a key in Dartmouth's current winning streak, as the Big Green is 8-0 when leading or tied with its opponents in rebounds, and 7-0 when limiting opponents to 60 points or less.
"We've been doing really well," Smith said of the team's defensive success.
The men will host Brown and Yale on Friday and Saturday, respectively, while the women will travel to Providence, R.I., and New Haven, Conn., for their doubleheader matchups. All games are slated for 7 p.m. tipoffs, except for the women's matchup against Yale, which is set to begin at 6 p.m.
