PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team rides a seven-game winning streak into a powerhouse matchup of the Ivy League's top-two teams on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The Quakers will travel to Jadwin Gym to take on 23rd-ranked Princeton looking to avenge an earlier season loss to the Tigers.
GAME 23 – PENN (17-5, 7-2 Ivy League) at PRINCETON (21-1, 9-0 Ivy League)
Tuesday, Feb. 25 | 7 p.m.
Jadwin Gym | Princeton, N.J.
Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats
In The Series vs. Princeton: 91st Meeting
The Tigers recently won their 60th game all-time against Penn earlier this season with their 75-55 win at The Palestra. Since 2016, however, the series is deadlocked at 6-6, including the Quakers' five-game streak over Princeton from January of 2016 until January of 2018.
The Home Meeting: Jan. 11, 2020 | Princeton 75, Penn 55
When Penn and Princeton met in January, the top Ivy squads met with a combined record of 22-2 and the first half lived up to its billing. Through 20 minutes, the Tigers led 33-30 before pulling away in the third and fourth quarters. Kayla Padilla put on a show for the Quakers with a game-high and career-high 27 points on 10-for-14 shooting. Both Bella Alarie and Taylor Baur recorded double-doubles for the Tigers, notching 25 points and 11 rebounds and 15 points and 13 boards, respectively.
Last Time Out: W, 70-48 vs. Harvard (Feb. 22, 2020)
- Penn pounced on Harvard on Saturday night, scoring the game's first 12 points while holding the Crimson scoreless for 4:51 to start the game. Eventually, by the end of the first quarter, the Quakers held a comfortable 24-10 advantage and never looked back en route to an impressive 70-48 victory, avenging an earlier season loss.
- Kayla Padilla was fabulous offensively, and especially in the early going, scoring 23 points while adding five assists, three rebounds and three steals in the win. The freshman drilled six three pointers, including four in the first quarter to propel the Quakers hot start.
- Eleah Parker notched her sixth double-double in the last eight games with a 10-point, 10-rebound performance. In total, four Quakers finished in double figures with Phoebe Sterba and Tori Crawford each contributing 10 points.
- Kendall Grasela continued to play quarterback in an efficient manner, assisting on six baskets while turning the ball over just once.
Excellent Eleah
Junior center Eleah Parker was named the Big 5 Co-Player of the Week after her double-double performances on consecutive nights this weekend. Her 24-point, 13-rebound domination of Dartmouth on Friday night set the tone in the 67-31 win over the Big Green. Parker leads the Ivy League in rebounding and blocks in conference play.
Nationally, We Rank…
Fifth in field-goal percentage defense (33.3) … Sixth in scoring defense (53.0) … Ninth in fewest turnovers per game (11.6) … Ninth in fewest fouls per game (13.5) … 10th in assist/TO ratio (1.34) … 19th in scoring margin (15.8) … 23rd in turnover margin (5.05).
Defensive Mentality
Penn ranks sixth in the country in scoring defense, allowing just 53.0 ppg this 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 (+5.05) and have forced 20 or more turnovers five times this year, including 27 against Stetson, the most under McLaughlin. Teams are shooting just 33.3 percent against Penn, the fifth-best defensive mark in the country.
Sharing, Not Careless
The Red and Blue has created a lot of its offensive production through its passing. Penn averages 15.4 assists per game, the 41st-best total in the country. Conversely, the Quakers have turned the ball over just 11.6 times per game, ninth in the country, leading to the 10th-best assist/TO ratio in the country (1.34). Kendall Grasela powers the motor in that respect, ranking seventh in the country in assist/TO ratio at 2.88 and averages 4.5 helpers per game.
#FightOnPenn
