PHILADELPHIA – Sophomore forward Jordan Obi recorded her first career double-double thanks to a 29-point, 12-rebound performance to lead the University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team past visiting King's College, 91-55, on Tuesday evening at The Palestra.

The Quakers (2-0) won for the first time at The Palestra in 626 days and earned a victory in their home opener for the fourth straight season under head coach Mike McLaughlin.

Quaker Notemeal
*Obi set new career highs in points, rebounds, field goals made (11), free throws made (6), blocks (2) and minutes played (28).

*Obi's double-double was the first for the Quakers since Eleah Parker had 24 points and 14 rebounds against Brown in February 2020.

*Penn has scored over 80 points in back-to-back games for the first time since the opening two contests of the 2019-20 campaign (92-44 vs. Siena on 11/9/19) & 85-51 at NJIT on 11/13/19).

*Mandy McGurk set new career-highs in points (17) and steals (3). She knocked down 8-of-14 from the field and dished out three assists.

*Sydnei Caldwell is the third Quaker in double figures for the evening, dropping 10 points on 50-percent shooting.

*Mia Lakstigala set career highs in rebounds (8) and assists (5), while dropping in nine points for her well-rounded stat line.

How It Happened
Trailing 5-4 early in the first quarter, Penn reeled off five straight points following an old-fashioned, three-point play from Obi and layup from Lakstigala to take a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the contest.

King's and the Quakers went back-and-forth for much of the opening 10 minutes with the largest Penn advantage being six following a trey from Lakstigala with 3:10 left to make it 14-8 in favor of the Red and Blue.

During the second quarter, Penn shot 61 percent (11-of-18) from the field as the Quaker lead swelled to as many as 16 at 38-22 midway through the stanza courtesy of a steal and bucket in transition from McGurk.
 

2Q 4:00 | Penn 38, King's 22

Steal, transition, layup... like clockwork by Mandy McGurk!#FightOnPenn pic.twitter.com/rak8ni99FU

— Penn WBB (@PennWBB) November 16, 2021

The Quakers ended the first half on a 6-3 surge capped by a layup from McGurk to take a 48-35 edge into halftime. In the second quarter, Penn had seven assists on 11 made field goals to build a double-digit advantage.
 

3Q 6:44 | Penn 54, King's 43

Mandy McGurk finds Obi in the paint for a hard left side finish!#FightOnPenn pic.twitter.com/IadQ6Bk1Ov

— Penn WBB (@PennWBB) November 16, 2021

Penn forced six King's turnovers in the third quarter and used a 15-3 run that spanned more than seven minutes to hold a 67-46 lead heading into the fourth.

The Quakers poured it on late and took their largest lead of the game at 91-55 late in the final quarter. Penn emptied the bench down the stretch en route to their second consecutive win over King's.
 

4Q 9:00 | Penn 72, King's 47

McGurk having a career night! Three ball from the corner!#FightOnPenn pic.twitter.com/wLDiNIiig9

— Penn WBB (@PennWBB) November 16, 2021

Up Next
The Quakers hit the road for a non-conference clash with St. Francis Brooklyn on Thursday evening. Opening tip is slated for 7:00 p.m. at Daniel Lynch '38 Gymnasium in the Empire State.