PHILADELPHIA – A historic heavyweight showdown awaits the University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team on Saturday, Jan. 11 as Princeton arrives at The Palestra to initiate Ivy League action. The Quakers are off to their best start in program history at 10-1, while the Tigers open league play at 12-1.

At this point in the season, no two Ivy League teams have ever met with a combined record of at least 22-2.

GAME INFORMATION: Penn (10-1, 0-0 Ivy League) vs. Princeton (12-1, 0-0 Ivy League)
Jan. 11, 2020 | 1 p.m. | The Palestra | ESPN+ and NBC Sports Philadelphia | WATCH | Live Stats | Game Notes

In the Series vs. Princeton: 90th Meeting
Saturday marks the 90th meeting between Penn and Princeton. The Tigers lead the all-time series 59-30. During the regular season last year, the road team took both meetings as the Quakers won 66-60 at Jadwin Gym before the Tigers returned the favor 68-53 at The Palestra. In the Ivy League Tournament championship game, Princeton broke the tie with a 65-54 victory.

Catching the Game: ESPN+/NBC Sports Philadelphia
Tuesday's game can be watched live on ESPN+ as part of the Ivy League's partnership with ESPN, but can also be found regionally on NBC Sports Philadelphia. In-game Twitter updates and video can be found at @PennWBB. A complete recap, box score and highlights will be on  PennAthletics.com shortly after the conclusion of the game.

Last Time Out: W, 90-39 at Chaminade (Jan. 2, 2020)
  - Two days after a convincing 70-55 win at Hawaii, Penn cruised to a dominant 90-39 defeat of the Silverswords on the islands.
  - Kayla Padilla led with an efficient 17 points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists in just 22 minutes of action. Mia Lakstigala was as impressive, piling up 15 points on 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in only 13 minutes.
  - Penn crushed Chaminade in fast-break points, a category in which the Quakers have excelled in all season, outscoring the Silverswords 26-0.

In Rarified Air
Just two teams in the country rank inside the top 10 in both assist/TO ratio and field-goal percentage defense: No. 6 Baylor and Penn.

Nationally, We Rank...
Third in scoring defense (47.9 ppg) ... Fourth in field-goal percentage defense (31.8) ... Sixth in assist/TO ratio (1.46) ... Sixth in fewest fouls per game (12.6) ... 11th in scoring margin (+23.8) ... 14th in assists per game (18.2) ... 15th in fewest turnovers per game (12.5) ... 20th in turnover margin (+6.00).

Offensive Eruption
On average under McLaughlin, Penn reaches 80 points in a game 1.7 times per year. Through just 11 games, the Quakers have eclipsed 80 points four times after scorching Chaminade 90-39. When reaching 80, Penn is 20-1 during McLaughlin's reign and 4-0 this year.

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.

Defensive Mentality
Penn ranks third in the country in scoring defense, allowing just 47.9 ppg through the first 11 games of the season. One key attribute to that number is the Red and Blue's ability to turn opponents over. The Quakers are 20th in the nation in turnover margin (+6.00) and have forced 20 or more turnovers five times this year, including 27 against Stetson, the most under McLaughlin. Teams are shooting just 31.8 percent against Penn, the fourth-best mark in the country.

Sharing, Not Careless
The Red and Blue has created a lot of its offensive production through its passing. Penn averages 18.2 assists per game, the 14th-best total in the country and best among the Ivies. Conversely, the Quakers have turned the ball over just 12.5 times per game, 15th in the country, leading to the sixth-best assist/TO ratio in the country (1.46). Kendall Grasela is the straw that stirs the drink, ranking seventh in the country is assist/TO ratio at 3.06 and 40th nationally in assists per game (5.0) - both totals lead the Ivy League.

Streaking Sterba
Phoebe Sterba, who returns as Penn's most lethal 3-point shooter, finishing last season with 75 made 3-pointers, second most in single-season history, is back to her sharpshooting ways. Through 11 games, she's hit 27 threes, including five against La Salle. She's hit a three in each game and at least two in nine of them, including the most recent six.

Padilla's Historic Start
Through 11 career games, Kayla Padilla has accounted for at least 14 points in every game. In just her second, at NJIT, she scored a game-high 25, the first Quaker to hit that number in one of her first two games since Diana Caramanico scored 26 in her debut back in 1997-98. Paired with her 14-point game against Siena to begin the season, Padilla's 39 points through two games were the most by a freshman at Penn since Kirsten Brendel scored 54 in 1987-88. Her 158 points through eight games match Diana Caramanico's program record to start a career.

Kendall, The Creator
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 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 ranks seventh in the country is assist/TO ratio at 3.06 and 40th nationally in assists per game (5.0) - both totals lead the Ivy League.

Scouting the Tigers
Princeton, like Penn, enters the showdown with just one loss, coming on the road to a Power 5 opponent. The Tigers fell in overtime to Iowa, 77-75, but have racked up Power 5 wins over Penn State and Missouri in consecutive games. Reigning Ivy League Player of the Year Bella Alarie leads Princeton with 16.9 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per contest. Carlie Littlefield is an extremely competent second banana with 15.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 3.3 apg.

Up Next
Penn switches from Ivy League play to Big 5 action as the Quakers head to Villanova on Wednesday, Jan. 15 and then Temple on Thursday, Jan. 23.