Penn vs. Cornell Box Score (PDF)

PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania (16-7, 9-1 Ivy) led wire-to-wire on Friday, taking down the Cornell Big Red (14-10, 5-6), 47-34, at The Palestra. With the win, the Quakers held on to a one-game advantage over Princeton with just four conference matchups remaining — including a March 7 date with the Tigers.

Penn has now won 9+ Ivy games in five straight seasons and has officially clinched a berth in the inaugural Ivy League Tournament, which will take place at The Palestra in two weeks.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Michelle Nwokedi led all scorers with 18 points — posting her third straight double-double thanks to 10 rebounds on the evening, adding four blocks for good measure. With six points, eight rebounds, and three steals, Sydney Stipanovich put in another solid performance as well as the Quakers were able to grind the win out. It was the defense that paved the way for the win, allowing just 12-for-51 shooting (23.5%) and 3-for-17 from three (17.6%).

Nwokedi came into the contest 11 points shy of becoming the 22nd player in Penn history to join the 1,000 point club — and crossed the mark with a three-pointer early in the second quarter. She finished the game with 1,007 career points, 21st in program history.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Quakers jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead thanks to six early points from Nwokedi. After the Penn offense briefly stagnated, Ashley Russell added a pair of layups off the bench, providing the spark that enabled the Red and Blue to take an 11-9 lead into the second frame.

In the second quarter, it was Nwokedi again who powered the offense. Thanks to a pair of back-to-back treys midway through the period, the junior took 16 points into the break — with Sydney Stipanovich adding six of her own — as the Quakers held on to a 28-17 edge. Five rebounds from Russell and four from Nwokedi led the way defensively, as the Quakers allowed just eight points on 4-for-13 shooting in the period.

After Penn opened the second half on a 10-2 run, the Big Red responded in kind and preventing the Quakers from putting things away early. Following the runs, things settled down and the two teams traded baskets for the remainder of the stanza. The Red and Blue still held a 12-point edge — 41-29 — when the third quarter ended, thanks largely to 5-for-11 shooting as a team and a pair of blocks from Nwokedi.

Kasey Chambers brought the lead out to 15 early in the fourth quarter on back-to-back threes, after which neither team scored for more than five minutes before Cornell's Nia Marshall drained a pair of free throws with 2:24 remaining. No one would score again, and the Quakers would complete the season sweep of the Big Red with the 47-34 win.

UP NEXT
The Quakers continue with their Ivy weekend with another home game when they host Columbia on Saturday, Feb. 25. Game time vs. the Lions is slated for 7 p.m. and Penn's Senior Night.

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