The Harvard women's basketball team will head south this weekend on a crucial Ivy road trip to face Princeton on Friday night and Penn the next evening.

With just over two weeks remaining in the Ivy season, both games are must-win for the Crimson. Friday's loss to last-place Brown knocked Harvard a game back of red hot Dartmouth, winners of 10 straight, leaving little room for error.

Despite last week's upset loss, the Crimson should be able to step up its play. Sophomore guard Jenn Monti, who has amassed an Ivy-best 132 assists this year will be back to top form now that she has overcome her recent bout with the flu.

Captain Laela Sturdy will look to match her sharp performance from her last "Killer-Ps" weekend two weeks ago, in which she hit 68.0 percent from the floor and twice led the team in scoring.

Even with Monti back at full health, Harvard must continue to survive with limited services from two of its original starting five.

Sophomore forward Katie Gates, one of the Crimson's top defensive players, has struggled with injury and illness since sustaining a concussion against Yale in January. She did not make the trip with the team this time.

Junior center Melissa Johnson has not played since injuring her knee in the Crimson's earlier 78-76 loss to Penn. Though she now wears a knee brace and her mobility has improved, her playing status will be determined at game time.

Freshman Kate Ides has done an excellent job filling in for Johnson. After breaking through with a 12-point effort against Princeton on Feb. 12, Ides led the team with 14 points against Brown, and followed up with a near double-double - nine points, eight boards - against Yale the next day.