"We always expect to win all of our games," head coach Chris Wielgus said. "And we are excited to play at home for the first time in a long time."
Dartmouth and Penn have played a total of 63 games, with Dartmouth winning 41 of those matchups. Although the Big Green has beaten Penn in 10 of the teams' last 12 meetings, the Quakers defeated Dartmouth, 44 31, last year to snap a five-game losing streak against the team.
Penn's victory over Dartmouth was its only conference win last season.
After losing consecutively to Harvard University, Cornell University and Columbia University, Dartmouth hopes to hand Penn its third League loss this season.
Due to several injuries including one to Nicola Zimmer '14 that left the Big Green with only nine available players against Harvard (11-6, 3-0 Ivy) on Jan. 15 Dartmouth has not been able to maintain a consistent starting lineup. The team has not dressed its full 13-player roster for a single game this season.
"The team had a lot of injuries and a lot of setbacks it's a challenge but it's also fun," Wielgus said. "Just when we think we have things figured out something else happens. People from outside tend to only focus on the [statistics] and does not realize the enormous setbacks we had to go through."
Wielgus said that, despite recent losses, she is proud of her team's effort.
"They are not giving up and they are working hard," she said.
Despite its recent League record, Wielgus said the Big Green will treat this weekend's set as it would any other.
"We do a great deal scouting and planning," she said. "We practice on specific drills within our skill set."
Starting guard Meghan McFee '11 said she is excited for the weekend slate.
"It's a big weekend for us coming off the road," she said. "Penn is a pretty good matchup for us and we look forward to it."
McFee said she hopes the Big Green can use the team's game against Princeton as a turning point, adding that it has the potential to help the "team come together."
"Princeton has always been a big game for us," McFee said.
In addition to practicing for a full weekend of basketball, the Big Green is also preparing for National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which was officially designated for Feb. 2. Dartmouth will promote the occasion which celebrates the involvement of women who are active in athletics this weekend along with thousands of other sports personnel and players across the country.
"Lots of kids come in and we have great fan support in the community," Wielgus said. "This is a remarkably giving community and we even had some kids [who participated in the past] who eventually played for us. It's a big part of why we look forward to home games."
