Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y.--The Quaker women's basketball teamheld the lead early in the game, and trailed by just four to Cornell at the half. The Big Red put some distance between them and Penn's late-game surge was not enough to close the gap.

Cornell registered five players in double-digit scoring and was led by Jeomi Maduka with 17 points. The Big Red stretched its four-point half time lead to 15 points with 11:33 left to play. Three-pointers from Carrie Biemer and Amy Donovan and lay-ups from Anca Popovici and Jerin Smith shrunk that deficit to just five points with 5:45 left to go.

Penn was hampered by turnovers and fouls in the remaining minutes while Cornell continued to score on its possessions and rebuild the double-digit lead.

The first half was more closely contested with Penn frustrating Cornell and holding the lead for the first 11 minutes of the half. After Cornell gained its first lead, the teams swapped control until 2:38 when the Big Red took the lead for good.

Biemer led her team's scoring with 19 points while the Quakers got solid contributions on the boardsfrom KatarinaLackner and Popovici who co-led the team with six each. As a team, the Red and Blue out-rebounded Cornell 35-32.

Lackner had nine points in the first half and led the team before halftime. Popovici dished four assists, was credited with one steal. Her hustle caused four jump balls and disrupted Cornell's game plan throughout the contest.

Also providing a spark for Penn was newcomer Smith who scored five points, three rebounds and a steal.

The Quakers continue their Empire State tour with a game at Columbia Saturday night. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.