Dartmouth
Coach Chris Wields starts her second year atDartmouth (8-18, 6-8). She led the Big Green from1976-84, and for her second time around she doesnot inherit a winning team.
Dartmouth figures to be strongest in thefrontcourt, where it has top returning scorerLaurie Stucker (9.6 PPG). Last year, the Big Greenwas hurt by injuries. Dartmouth is the league'swild-card, and has the talent to contend.
Cornell
Cornell (10-16, 4-10) won more games last yearthan it has in a decade. Four starters return,including second team all-Ivy junior forward KeriFarley (15.7 PPG). The Big Red plays a physical,aggressive game, and should continue to improve.
Columbia
Columbia rounds out the league. The Lions arecoming off a miserable season (7-19, 1-13), andhave the fewest returning starters (two). Theywill probably be worse than Columbia's footballteam.
A Final Word
The Ivy League is strong from top to bottom.Brown will be challenged by no less than sixteams.
"It is wide-open," says Harvard Coach KathyDelaney-Smith. But the prediction here is thatHarvard will distinguish itself from the pack ofcontenders and be there with Brown at the end.
On March 4, Brown visits Harvard, a game thatcould resemble the classic mid-80's Laker-Celticclashes--one pushing the ball, one slowing itdown; one Showtime, one Slowtime.
And if that isn't enough, the winner of thatgame gets to join March Madness.