The Harvard Crimson Troupe and The Penn Quaker Players, the two women's basketball companies vying for the Ivy League's traditional Cinderella role in March's "Big Dance," will meet tonight at Lavietes Pavilion. Curtain rises at 6 p.m.

The Off-JFK production of The Princeton Tiger Company and The Crimson Troupe will go up tomorrow night on the same stage.

Penn (14-5, 5-0 Ivy), led by star Diana Caramanico, a 6'2 junior forward who is currently No. 2 in the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per game, has never made it onto the grand stage. A diligent understudy in senior guard Mandy West (17.7 ppg) waits in the wings when Caramanico falters.

The Quaker Players now stand their best chance in school history to make it past the opening auditions of the Ivy season, which they have never done.

Harvard (12-5, 5-0), meanwhile, features an ensemble cast of characters, where any one player can become the star on any given night under the direction of Coach Kathy Delaney-Smith.

Sophomore point guard Jenn Monti averages 8.6 assists per game, good for eighth in the nation. Captain Laela Sturdy shoots 52.1 percent from behind the arc, making her third in the country. And junior center Melissa Johnson averages 11.6 rebounds per game--0.1 behind Caramanico--good for eighth in the country.

The Crimson Troupe could be without one of its major players. Sophomore forward Katie Gates is questionable for the opening act on Friday. Freshman Bree Kelley has filled in for Gates in the past and could be called upon again.

"I just talked to my doctor and he said 'maybe,'" Gates said. " I'm not sure if Kathy is going to let me play. I would say probably no."