PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team enters Ivy League play in earnest this weekend with road matchups at Harvard on Friday night and then Dartmouth Saturday.
GAME 15: PENN (10-4, 0-1 Ivy) at HARVARD (10-5, 1-1 Ivy)
Friday, Jan. 31 | 7 p.m.
Lavietes Pavilion | Cambridge, Mass.
Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats | Harvard Game Notes
GAME 16: PENN (10-4, 0-1 Ivy) at DARTMOUTH (7-8, 1-1 Ivy)
Saturday, Feb. 1 | 5 p.m.
Leede Arena | Hanover, N.H.
Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats | Dartmouth Game Notes
In the Series vs. Harvard: 86th Meeting
Despite trailing the Crimson by 17 wins in the all-time series, the Quakers have spent the last seven years digging into that deficit. Since the 2013-14 season, Penn has fallen to the Crimson just twice, while racking up 12 wins. Last year, the two split the games in the regular season, each winning at home before the Red and Blue beat Harvard 91-62 in the Ivy League Tournament semifinal.
In the Series vs. Dartmouth: 82nd Meeting
Much like the Harvard series, Penn trails but has been extremely dominant of late. The Big Green lead the series 43-38, but the Quakers have won the last 10 and 16 of the last 17 matchups. Dartmouth's last win over Penn came in Hanover in February of 2014.
Catching the Game: ESPN+
Both games can be watched live on ESPN+ in conjunction with the Ivy League's partnership with ESPN. 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: L, 76-72 at Temple (Jan. 23, 2020)
- Penn ran out to a 13-point advantage at the end of three quarters, but was outscored 29-12 over the final 10 minutes to suffer a heartbreaking 76-72 loss at Temple.
- Eleah Paker was back to her usual self, though, recording her 19th career double-double and first of the season with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Parker becomes the second Quaker to record a double-double, joining Kennedy Suttle.
- Kendall Grasela also had a career night, scoring 15 points with seven helpers. Her 15 tallies are a career high and, with two made three pointers, she raised her season total to five.
Nationally, We Rank...
Eighth in assist/TO ratio (1.43) ... Eighth in fewest fouls per game (13.4) ... Ninth in scoring defense (53.4 ppg) ... 14th in fewest turnovers per game (12.0) ... 18th in field-goal percentage defense (34.6) ... 20th in assists per game (17.2) ... 23rd in turnover margin (+5.29) ... and 24th in scoring margin (+16.1).
Defensive Mentality
Penn ranks ninth in the country in scoring defense, allowing just 53.4 ppg through the first 14 games of the season. One key attribute to that number is the Red and Blue's ability to turn opponents over. The Quakers are 23rd in the nation in turnover margin (+5.29) and have forced 20 or more turnovers five times this year, including 27 against Stetson, the most under McLaughlin. Teams are shooting just 34.6 percent against Penn, the 18th-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 17.2 assists per game, the 20th-best total in the country and best among the Ivies. Conversely, the Quakers have turned the ball over just 12.0 times per game, 14th in the country, leading to the eighth-best assist/TO ratio in the country (1.43). Kendall Grasela is the straw that stirs the drink, ranking seventh in the country in assist/TO ratio at 3.0 and averages 4.9 helpers per game.
Igniting Offense From Defense
The Quakers have excelled on the defensive end and by creating turnovers, where they've separated, however, is their ability to run out and turn those opportunities into points. Penn outscores its opponents 174-69 on fast-break chances and is 9-0 in games when it wins that category.
Ivy League Success
Penn won at least 11 Ivy League games for the sixth-straight year in 2018-19. Prior to its current record run, Penn had won 11 or more Ivy League games only twice in its entire history.
#RoadToIvyMadness
The Ivy League is in its fourth season with a conference tournament, inviting the regular season's top-four finishers to Ivy Madness. The Quakers have advanced to the championship game in each of the first three editions of the competition, winning the trophy in 2017 at The Palestra. This season, Ivy Madness is set for March 13-14, 2020 at Harvard's Lavietes Pavilion in Cambridge, Mass.
Scouting the Crimson
Harvard enters the initial Ivy League weekend 10-5, including a two-game split with Dartmouth. The Crimson and Quakers have seen similar opponents this far, sharing four common non-conference foes. In those matchups, Harvard beat Siena and Hartford but fell to La Salle and Saint Joseph's; against those common opponents, Penn went 4-0. The Crimson are led by terrific freshman Lola Mullaney, who averages 15.4 ppg - fifth in the league.
Scouting the Big Green
Dartmouth shares the same league record as Harvard having split with its travel partner. In non-conference action, the Big Green went 6-7 after kick starting the season 3-0. Annie McKenna is the lone scorer averaging double figures, piling up 12.9 ppg while also leading the team with 66 assists, or 4.4 per game.
Up Next
Penn returns to The Palestra to host Columbia and Cornell on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7-8.
#FightOnPenn
