Box Score – CSU Northridge (PDF)

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Led by the career-high performance from Princess Aghayere, the University of Pennsylvania (5-4) registered a 47-36 win over CSU Northridge (7-7) to start their West Coast road trip off on the right footing.

Aghayere led the Quakers with a career-high 13 points and added eight boards, while Sydney Stipanovich notched her eighth double-double of the season and the 33rd of her career with 10 points and 11 rebounds. In a total team effort, the Quaker bench provided 25 points.

"I was ready to step in and contribute," said Aghayere. "I knew this was going to be a hard game I felt really strong."

The Quakers shot 38% from beyond the arc (3-of-8) and 28% from the field (17-of-61) for the contest while the Matadors struggled and made just 3-of-17 from downtown (18%) and shot just 24% total for the contest. Both teams registered an even 46 boards on the evening.

CSUN was led by the 14 point, nine rebound effort of Channon Fluker while the Matadors had just five players contribute points on the evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Quakers found themselves on the downside of a 7-1 run to start the contest, but a steady effort led by Anna Ross' five first quarter points made it a one point game at 11-10 by the end of the frame.  

The Red and Blue increased their output in the second quarter and by the media timeout had tied the contest at 20-20 following a Lauren Whitlatch jumper from the baseline. The Matadors had trouble defending the inside efforts of Aghayere who poured in an additional nine points and four boards as Penn closed the stanza on a 10-1 run with 43% accuracy from downtown. At the half, Penn held a 25-21 lead following 20 minutes of action.

Both sides traded possessions out of the locker rooms as neither team held more than a two point lead in the opening four minutes of the second half, but a trey and a steal from Ross aided the Quakers to a 37-30 advantage as the Red and Blue regained momentum in the quarter. The frame featured three tied scores and two lead changes before the Quakers took the lead for good with 4:43 remaining in the stanza.

The Quakers had no trouble maintaining their advantage in the final frame and increased the scoreline to 45-36 by the under-five media timeout. Stipanovich poured in six of her 10 points in the stanza as Penn cruised to the 47-36 victory.

UP NEXT
The Quakers return to action on Monday, Jan. 2 when they continue their West Coast swing at UC Riverside. Game time is slated for 5 p.m. PT, 8 p.m. ET.

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