PHILADELPHIA – With three wins of more than 30 points, the University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team is off to its first 3-0 start in program history. The Quakers now turn their attention to college basketball's most storied tradition on Wednesday night, Nov. 20 as the Red and Blue opens Big 5 play at Saint Joseph's. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.
In the Series vs. Saint Joseph's: 45th Meeting
Saint Joseph's leads the lopsided all-time series 40-4, but the Quakers own the upper hand of late. Three of Penn's wins have come in the most recent five meetings and enter Wednesday on a two-game win streak against the Hawks. In last year's 65-45 win at The Palestra, three donning the Red and Blue scored in double figures, including Eleah Parker's first double-double of the season, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Catching the Game: ESPN+
Sunday's game can be watched live on ESPN+. In-game Twitter updates and video can be found at @PennWBB. A complete recap, box score and highlights can be found on PennAthletics.com shortly after the conclusion of the game.
Last Time Out: W, 74-42 vs. Iona (Nov. 17, 2019) | Recap | Box Score
- Penn outscored the Gaels 21-5 in the second quarter to blow the game open and cruise to its third win of more than 30 points. The Quakers held Iona to 10 points or less in three of the four quarters.
- The Red and Blue bullied Iona inside, outscoring the Gaels 50-14 in the painted area and outrebounding them 44-29.
- Phoebe Sterba knocked down four 3-pointers to finish with a game-high 17 points and Kennedy Suttle recorded her first double-double, setting career highs in points (11) and rebounds (11).
- Kendall Grasela dished 10 assists, the second straight game she's reset her career high in helpers.
Grasela's Growth
In her second year as a starter, Kendall Grasela is reaching new heights as a creator, decision maker and facilitator. The senior guard delivered nine assists against NJIT, a career high, to just one turnover, before eclipsing that mark on Sunday against Iona with a 10-assist, two-turnover performance becoming the first player to hit double digits since Anna Ross on Dec. 22, 2017. She leads the Ivies in assists per game, is second in assist/turnover ratio and third in steals per game.
Padilla's Historic Start
After a game-high 25 points against NJIT, freshman Kayla Padilla became the first Quaker to hit that number in one of her first two games since Diana Caramanico scored 26 in her debut in 1997-98. Paired with her 14-point game against Siena to begin the season, Padilla's 39 points through two games is the most by a freshman at Penn since Kirsten Brendel scored 54 in 1987-88. The freshman added 14 with five rebounds and five assists against Iona to garner Ivy League Rookie of the Week accolades.
Kennedy Comes Back
After suffering a season-ending injury last year, sophomore Kennedy Suttle has emerged as an impact player in the starting five. Against Iona on Sunday, Suttle recorded her first double-double, racking up career highs in points (11) and rebounds (11).
Lock Down Defense
Penn has developed into one of the nation's most consistent defensive squads, holding its opposition to an average of 60 points or less to finish the year for eight-straight seasons. The Quakers have allowed just 137 points through three games, the fewest to start a season since 1974-75.
Offensive Eruption
In the season-opening win over Siena, Penn racked up 92 points - the most since defeating Yale in overtime, 92-80, on Feb. 2, 2001 and the most in a regulation game since a 92-82 win over Princeton on Jan. 8, 2000. At the halftime break, the Quakers put 57 on the board, the most under Coach Mike McLaughlin and Penn scored 30 in the first quarter, the third-most in a period all-time. Penn hammered NJIT for 85 tallies in the second game and then added 74 more against Iona on Sunday, raising its three-game total to 251 points, the most to start a season in program history.
Coach McLaughlin and the Big 5
In the 30 years of Big 5 play prior to Coach McLaughlin taking over at Penn, the Quakers had won a total of 14 Big 5 games. In his 11th season with the Red and Blue, he has surpassed that number himself, with 15 wins against his in-city rivals. He is the only coach in program history to win at least one game against every Big 5 school, and has helped lead Penn to its first two Big 5 championships in program history.
Scouting the Hawks
Saint Joseph's enters Wednesday 2-1 with wins over both Ivy League and Big 5 competition. The Hawks opened the season with a 71-57 victory at Columbia before returning home to defeat Temple 67-63. The lone loss for the Hawks came in a neutral-floor battle with Seton Hall, 55-39. Three players are averaging double digits, led by Claire Melia with 15.7 ppg. Lula Roig (10.7) and Katie Jekot (10.0) join her.
Against the Atlantic 10 Conference
During Mike McLaughlin's tenure, Penn is 14-12 against the A-10 Conference, riding a five-game win streak into Wednesday night's meeting with Saint Joseph's. Since its last loss, to La Salle in November of 2017, Penn defeated the Hawks twice, Rhode Island, VCU and the Explorers last season.
Up Next
Penn takes a week off before traveling to Durham, N.C. on Friday, Nov. 29 for a dance with Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
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