DELAND, Fla. - The University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team celebrated the end of 2018 with an impressive performance on the road, dominating Stetson 75-53 and improving to 8-2 on the year. 

PENN NEWS AND NOTES
*The Quakers were led by a thorough, all-around display from senior captain Ashley Russell, who tallied 23 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, four steals and two blocks. Her assist and block total are both career bests, and her four steals are a season high. 

*Three other Quakers tallied double figure scoring performances, including 12 from Phoebe Sterba, 11 from Eleah Parker and 10 from Kendall Grasela.

*Penn's four players in double figures are its most this season.

*The Quakers scored 29 points in the second quarter, its most in a quarter this season. 

*Grasela's 10 points match a career high set earlier this season at #1/1 Notre Dame. The junior hit a personal best two 3-pointers while also dishing six assists and nabbing three steals. 

*Junior Emily Anderson matched a career best with 10 points, shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from the field. 

*The Red and Blue totaled 21 assists, a season high and their most since tallying 25 at Brown last season. 

*Penn's 75-point performance was its second-highest scoring output of the season. Both of Penn's top scoring games have come against ASUN schools.

*The Quakers improve to 2-1 all-time against Stetson in the first contest between the two schools since 1998. 

*Penn finishes the month of December a perfect 4-0, going undefeated in the final month of the calendar year for the second time under Coach McLaughlin. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
A made shot from the Hatters gave the home team a 2-0 advantage, but that was the lone lead of the game for Stetson, as the Quakers responded with two-straight 3-pointers and layup from Princess Aghayere to take an 8-2 edge.

Crisp passing from Penn and strong defense, including over a five minute scoring drought from the Hatters, helped push the Quakers up 19-12 after the first quarter.

A 3-pointer from Stetson to open the second quarter drew the Hatters within four, but Penn remained composed with a jumper from Russell and free throws from Michae Jones following a transition opportunity. Stetson continued to hang around, keeping the game within a 10-point range, before a late surge from Sterba and Grasela vautled Penn to an insurmountable advantage. 

The junior duo scored the final 11 points of the period on the floor for the Quakers, coming for three 3-pointers. With both teams heating up, Penn was able to force turnovers and was lights out on offense, owning a 48-29 lead at the break.

The Quakers would increase their lead in the third quarter, featuring strong play in the post from Anderson and efficient shooting from both Grasela and Russell. The Quakers were able to check in every available player by the time the clock hit zero, as the Hatters never got a run to get back into the game and Penn held its clutches on the victory the entirety of the second half. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Quakers will open Ivy League play with a game against defending champion Princeton on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 2 p.m. in The Garden State.