PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team scored the first 13 points of the game and never looked back, cruising to a 65-34 victory over Big Five rival La Salle Wednesday night at the Palestra.
 
PENN NEWS AND NOTES
*Eleah Parker led a balance Quaker attack offensively with 15 points, while chipping in seven rebounds and four blocks in 23 minutes of play. The sophomore has posted a double-digit scoring effort five times this season.

*Senior Ashley Russell contributed in all facets of the game, notching a game-high six assists and eight rebounds.

*The Quakers out-muscled the Explorers down low, winning the rebounding battle 54-34 with 36 points in the paint to La Salle's six. 

*Penn is now 2-0 in Big Five play for just the third time in program history. 

*Penn has won its last five Big Five games dating back to last season, setting a program record for its longest win streak against its city foes.

*La Salle's lone two-point bucket in the third quarter ties a program record for least points allowed by the Quakers in a single quarter (March 5, 2016 vs. Harvard).

*The 34 points allowed is the lowest against a Division I opponent since holding Cornell to 34 in February of 2017. 

*Penn's 31-point victory is its second biggest win over La Salle in program history and largest since 1975.

*The Quakers are now 5-2, their best start since the 2015-16 season.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn got off to a fast start and started the game with a 13-0 run. Defense continued to be a strong point for the Quakers, allowing La Salle to shoot just 23% from the field. A stark contrast on the other end, Penn shot an efficient 67 percent, led by Parker who shot a perfect five for five.

A late three-pointer for the Explorers' Deja King cut the Quakers' lead to 12 after ten minutes of play.

Both teams struggled to get any offense going at the start of the second quarter. Within the first three minutes of the quarter Penn turned the ball over on each of its four possessions, while La Salle missed its first seven shots.

The Quakers finally found the net after a trey from Katie Kinum and a mid-range jumper from Parker. The Explorers were not so fortunate, as half of their four second quarter points came from the free throw line.

Penn finished with an 11-2 run in the final five minutes, with La Salle scoring seconds before the clock expired, to enter the half with a 41-17 lead.

The second half saw much of the same. La Salle scored a bucket early in the third quarter, but a 16-0 run for the Quakers followed. Penn eased up in the fourth quarter, with its bench players taking the floor for the entirety of the quarter.

QUOTING COACH
"I thought we played the second quarter really efficient. We got up and down the floor, scored the ball a little bit easier, started separating ourselves ... We had a great effort, really proud of our group tonight" 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Penn looks ahead to a trip to New Rochelle, N.Y. for a matchup with Iona on Saturday, Dec. 8th at 1 p.m., the first of four-straight road games for the Red and Blue.