PHILADELPHIA - There was plenty to celebrate on Saturday for the University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team as the Quakers used a 57-point first-half outburst to dismantle Siena, 92-44, at The Palestra. Prior to the game, Penn unveiled it's sixth Ivy League championship banner into the rafters of The Cathedral of College Basketball.

Eleah Parker led the way with 21 points as one of four Quakers in double figures. Sophomore Mia Lakstigala poured in a career-high 18 points in just 12 minutes as Penn rolled in its season opener.

PENN NEWS AND NOTES
*Penn's 30 first-quarter points are the third-most in a single period all-time.

*The Quakers blitzed Siena for 57 first-half points, the most under Coach Mike McLaughlin.

*Penn's 92 points scored are its most since defeating Yale in overtime, 92-80, on Feb. 2, 2001. It's the most points scored by the Quakers in regulation since a 92-82 win over Princeton on Jan. 8, 2000.

*Coach McLaughlin improves to 4-7 in season openers in his time at Penn and the Quakers have won two-straight season openers for the first time since wins to open 2010 and 2011.

*Eleah Parker's first-quarter 3-pointer was the second of her career and first since her freshman season.

*Freshman Kayla Padilla impressed in her collegiate debut, finishing with 14 points in just 20 minutes of work. No player for Penn played more than 22 minutes. Padilla's 14 points are the most for a freshman in their debut game since Keiera Ray scored 14 against St. Francis (N.Y.) in 2012.

*Mia Lakstigala finished with a career-high 18 points on 4-for-6 shooting, three 3-pointers and seven made free throws.

*In her first career start and first game since Feb. 2, 2019, sophomore Kennedy Suttle matched her career high with six points and led the team in rebounding with eight boards.

*Junior Chrissy Dicindio recorded five points, a career high.

*Eleven different Quakers scored as Penn was efficient from the floor, shooting 48 percent. 22 of Penn's 32 made field goals were assisted. 

*The 48-point win is the largest for the Quakers against a Division I opponent since a 74-26 victory against Cornell on Jan. 31, 1981. It's also Penn's largest margin of victory in a season opener in program history.

*Penn forced Siena into 20 turnovers, turning those into 30 points.

*Penn improves to 3-1 all-time against Siena. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
To open proceedings, Eleah Parker ripped off a 7-0 run on her own that included a shot from deep – the second made 3-pointer of her career. A pair of Sabrina Piper field goals sandwiched buckets from Kennedy Suttle and Kayla Padilla to momentarily stop the bleeding for Siena, but that was only temporary. While leading 11-2, Penn scored the next nine points, highlighted by four points from Tori Crawford and Padilla's three from the wing.

The Quakers eventually laid down 30 first-quarter points, the third-most in a quarter all-time, after another quick spurt, outscoring the Saints 10-0 over the final 2:49 to take a 30-7 lead into the second period. During that stretch, Phoebe Sterba knocked down a pair of treys, two of the Red and Blue's four in the first 10 minutes.

The balance of Penn's attack, mixed with a stifling defense, continued to start the second quarter. The Quakers blitzed Siena for a 16-2 run with five different players scoring, stretching the lead to 46-9. The Saints scored next to enter double digits before Padilla promptly knocked down another three and Mia Lakstigala converted on a pair from the line.

Penn took a 57-17 lead into the break, spurred on by tremendous execution on both ends of the floor. The Red and Blue forced 13 turnovers and limited Siena to under 20 percent shooting from the field.

Lakstigala put her imprint on the game in the third quarter, erupting for 10 of Penn's 22 points in the period, helping the Quakers to extend their lead to 79-26. Penn eventually closed out its season-opening win at The Palestra 92-44.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Quakers venture to Newark, N.J. to clash with NJIT on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. in their first road game of the season.