PHILADELPHIA - Fresh off a high-rated win at Villanova, the University of Pennsylvania (9-5, 2-1 Big 5) women's basketball team has a chance at a Big 5 title on Wednesday, Jan. 24, set to face the Temple Owls in McGonigle Hall at 7 p.m. Winners of seven of their last eight, the Quakers hope to continue their momentum and notch their third Big 5 victory of the season. 

In the Series vs. Temple: 49th Meeting
Wednesday's game is the 49th all-time meeting between the Quakers and the Owls, with Temple holding the advantage in the series, 34-14. Penn has had its most success in the Big 5 vs. Temple, owning more wins against the Owls than any other Big 5 opponent. The Quakers have won three of the last five meetings with the Owls, including the last two matchups on the road in the series. Five of the last six contests between Penn and Temple have been decided by single digits. 

Catching the Game: Owls TV
Wednesday's game can be watched live on Temple's Owls TV online. 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 American Athletic Conference
Coach McLaughlin is 3-6 against the AAC, with all meetings coming against Temple, including one matchup with the Owls in the 2015 WNIT. 

Last Time Out: W, 79-77 at Villanova (Jan. 17, 2018)
   - The Quakers took down the RPI's No. 13 ranked team Villanova inside Jake Nevin Field House last week in dramatic fashion, posting a 79-77 win following a last-second layup from senior captain Anna Ross. With the game tied at 77-77, the Quakers inbounded the ball to Ross who drove right and finished off the glass for the game winner.
   - Freshman Eleah Parker was a key cog for Penn on both offense and defense, going for a career-high in points with 25, collecting nine rebounds, and notching three blocks and three steals. Parker and Ross (11) were two of four Quakers that finished with double-digit points, joined by Michelle Nwokedi (17) and Lauren Whitlatch (16). 
   - The win was the first over the Wildcats since 2001 for the Quakers and just the third all-time. The 79 points scored were the most vs. Nova in series history, and the win is the highest rated victory for Penn as far back as RPI records go on NCAA.com (2002).

Scouting the Owls
Temple enters tonight's contest with an even record of 9-9, losers of four in a row. After last season's NCAA Tournament appearance, the Owls are just 1-5 in conference play this year but have a 2-1 mark in the Big 5, with wins over Saint Joseph's and La Salle and a loss to Villanova. Senior Tanaya Atkinson leads the squad averaging 22.6 points per game, ranking ninth in the country, while also collecting 9.6 boards each contest. Mia Davis is the only other Owl averaging double-digit scoring with 12.2 points per game. Temple has faced one other Ivy League foe this season in Harvard, defeating the Crimson 86-64.

Parker Gaining Steam
Freshman center Eleah Parker has emerged as a key offensive catalyst for the Quakers, boasting 10-straight games in double-figure scoring. Most recently, the Charlotte, N.C. native posted a new career-high in points with 25 against Villanova, earning both Ivy League Co-Player and Rookie of the Week honors for her efforts. Parker has won five Ivy League Rookie of the Week awards, two Player of the Week awards, two USBWA National Freshman of the Week awards and a Big 5 Player of the Week honor. 

Efficient Eleah
The key to Parker's success is evident in her efficiency from the floor. The rookie currently ranks third in the Ivy League in field goal percentage at over 51 percent. Parker also ranks first among all Ivy League freshman in scoring with 13.1 points per game and rebounding with 7.5 boards each contest. 

Dishin' Out Dimes
Anna Ross currently ranks second all-time at Penn with 423 career assists, only five behind the program leader Cheryl Rath (428 - 1989). Ross currently ranks tied for 23rd in the nation, averaging 5.9 assists per game. Against Rhode Island, Ross set a new career-high with 10 assists and became the first Quaker since Lauren Pears (Jan. 13, 2007) to notch a double-double on points/assists.

Ivy League Picks Parker... x7!
Parker has earned weekly honors from the Ivy League seven times this season, including five Rookie of the Week awards and two Player of the week honors. Parker is the first to win consecutive Rookie of the Week honors since Michelle Nwokedi won four-straight in the 2014-15 season and is the first freshman from Penn to be named Player of the Week since Sydney Stipanovich in 2013-14.

Making Waves Nationally
Not just the Ivy League has taken note of Parker's success this season. The rookie has won two USBWA National Freshman of the Week honors, becoming the second player to win multiple times since the inception of the award in the 2014-15 season. 

McLaughlin and the Big 5
Under head coach Mike McLaughlin, the Quakers have won 11 Big 5 games in the last seven years, including nine victories within the last five 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 11 career Big 5 victories.

Nwokedi Selected as Senior CLASS Award Candidate
Senior captain Michelle Nwokedi was named one of 30 Division I student-athletes from around the country as a candidate for the 2018 Senior CLASS Award, celebrating those with achievement in competition, community, classroom and character. In addition to her success on court, Nwokedi has proven success in other facets, earning a spot on last year's Winter Academic All-Ivy team, and starting a fundraiser for victims of Hurricane Harvey. 

Catching Fire
Penn's offense has been scorching at times throughout this season. After scoring 84 against Rhode Island and 82 against VCU, the Quakers notched 80+ points in back-to-back contests for the first time since 2003. The Red and Blue tied a McLaughlin-era record by hitting 13 3-pointers against URI and NJIT. Leading the charge has been Lauren Whitlatch, who ranks 30th in the country, averaging 3.0 three's per game. The Quakers had another standout performance against Villanova, scoring 79 points, their most ever against the Wildcats.

What's Next?
The Quakers will wrap up the non-conference portion of their schedule on Sunday, Jan. 28, welcoming Gwynedd Mercy to The Palestra for a 1 p.m. tip.