ITHACA, N.Y. - Playing its fifth game in eight days, the University of Pennsylvania (17-6, 8-2 Ivy) women's basketball team looked to its frontcourt to lead the team to victory, and they did just that, as the Quakers notched a 53-39 win at Cornell on Saturday evening. Michelle Nwokedi and Eleah Parker led way, combining for 30 points, 22 rebounds and five blocks. 

PENN NEWS AND NOTES
*Nwokedi finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds, good for her fifth double-double of the season and 37th of her career, tying Sydney Stipanovich for third in program history. Nwokedi knocked down one 3-pointer in the game, pushing Penn to 7-0 this season when Nwokedi hits from deep. 

*Parker nearly joined her senior teammate with a double-double, posting 10 points and nine rebounds. Parker was a force defensively for the Quakers as well, finishing with four blocks and a steal on the night.

*The Quaker defense was stifling all weekend, with back-to-back performances holding their opponents 39 points or less for the first time since games against Yale and Columbia in 2015. 

*Penn improves to 58-21 all-time against the Big Red and has now won four in a row vs. Cornell. The Quakers have held Cornell to 55-points or less in seven-straight meetings.

*The Quakers outrebounded Cornell 37-30, improving to 15-1 this season when winning the battle of the boards. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
It was Anna Ross early for the Quakers who provided aggression on offense, not shy to pull up from three or drive the basket. Penn jumped out to a 9-2 lead early, but in what would become a recurring theme throughout the night, Cornell fought back to cut it close. The Big Red put together a 5-0 run, cutting the lead to 17-13 after the end of the first quarter.

Some sloppy play for the Quakers brought Cornell within two, at 17-15 but Penn was able to respond with a 7-0 run of its own for a nine-point edge. The half ended with a 3-pointer from Nwokedi, giving the Red and Blue their largest lead of the night at 33-20.

Nwokedi continued her run in the third quarter, pacing Penn on offense in both transition and the halfcourt. Cornell again responded, and it became a defensive struggle on both sides. The Quakers had several miscues in halfcourt and went nearly eight minutes without a field goal before a nifty post move from Parker to end the quarter up 40-28. 

Both teams again saw scoring droughts in the fourth quarter, but Penn had established a large enough lead to hold on for the win, 53-39. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
The final Ivy League road swing of the season awaits the Quakers next weekend, as Penn travels to Harvard for a 6 p.m. tip on Friday, Feb. 23, before squaring off with Dartmouth the following day at 5 p.m.