PHILADELPHIA - They say there ain't no rest for the wicked, and this lyric fittingly applies to the University of Pennsylvania (2-4) women's basketball team, as the Quakers face a quick turnaround after facing one of the nation's best teams in #3/2 Notre Dame at The Palestra on Saturday, making the short trip to Hawk Hill for a Big 5 contest against Saint Joseph's Monday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. Penn aims to break a two-game skid and earn its first road and Big 5 victory of the season.

In the Series vs. Saint Joseph's: 43rd Meeting
Monday's game marks the 43rd meeting between the Quakers and the Hawks on the hardwood as part of the yearly Big 5 rivalry. St. Joe's has held the dominant advantage in the all-time series 40-2, but the Red and Blue gained a victory over the Hawks just three years ago, a 65-51 win at The Palestra.

Catching the Game: Atlantic-10 Network
Monday's game can be seen live on the Atlantic-10 Network. In-game Twitter updates can be found @PennWBB. A complete recap, box score and highlights can be found on PennAthletics.com shortly after the conclusion of the game.

Against the Atlantic 10 Conference
Coach Mike McLaughlin owns a 9-12 overall record against the Atlantic 10 Conference. McLaughlin has faced off against the A-10 more than any other league exluding the Ivy League, largly due to playing affiliated members La Salle and Saint Joseph's each year as part of Big 5 play.

Last Time Out: L, 54-66 vs. #3/2 Notre Dame (Dec. 9, 2017)
   - The University of Pennsylvania (2-4) women's basketball team battled #3/2 Notre Dame to the finish on Saturday afternoon at The Palestra, but a early fourth quarter surge from the Fighting Irish was enough to stave off the upset bid a 66-54 victory. The Quakers held Notre Dame a season-low in points.
   - Senior captain Lauren Whitlatch matched a career-high against the Fighting Irish, draining six three-pointers on 6-of-12 shooting from the field. Freshman Eleah Parker joined her in double-figures with 10 points, while Ashley Russell nabbed seven rebounds, one shy of her career-high. 
   - The Quaker defense had a strong day against one of the nation's best teams, forcing Notre Dame into 22 turnovers and continuing an impressive streak of holding 72 of their last 74 opponents to 68 points or less. 

Scouting the Hawks
Saint Joseph's enters Monday's contest with an overall record of 5-3 but have lost three-straight contests, including two Big 5 losses to Temple and Villanova. The Hawks own victories over Niagara, Bucknell, James Madison, Eastern Illinois and Saint Peter's. St. Joe's is led by four players averaging double-figures in points, with Sarah Veilleux on top of the pack at 15.5 a game. Both Chelsea Woods and Adashia Frankly average over seven rebounds per contest, but St. Joe's has been strong from the field, shooting over 45 percent on average in its eight games.

Watch Out for Nwokedi
Already a candidate for the inaugural Katrina McClain award entering the season, Nwokedi continues to be a steady force for the Red and Blue on both offense and defense. The senior captain currently ranks 14th in the nation in blocks per game at 2.83, and has risen up to No. 9 in the Penn record books for all-time scoring with 1,212 points. Nwokedi needs just five points to tie Karen Habrukowich (2002-05) for eighth all-time. 

McLaughlin and the Big 5
Under head coach Mike McLaughlin, the Quakers have won nine Big 5 games in the last seven years, including seven victories within the last four years. Prior to that, Penn won a total of seven Big 5 games between 1994-2009 (15 seasons). In all, in the 30 years prior to the Coach McLaughlin era, Penn won just 14 Big 5 games. That gives Coach McLaughlin over one-third of Penn's all-time Big 5 wins. He already owns the school record with nine career Big 5 victories.

Dishin' Out Dimes
Anna Ross currently ranks fourth all-time at Penn with 369 career assists, only 59 behind the program leader Cheryl Rath (428, set in 1989). Ross entered the 2017-18 season after earning Second Team All-Ivy accolades last season. As a junior, Ross ended the year tied for first in the Ivy League with 127 assists on the season (4.2/game). Ross' presence was invaluable, as she also led the Ancient Eight in total minutes played, logging 1,057 minutes on the court (35.2/game). 

Up Next...
With finals on the horizon, the Quakers will take a break from the basketball court and hit the books to wrap up the fall academic semester. Penn is back in action for a Friday matinee at The Palestra against Rhode Island on Dec. 22 at 1 p.m.