Box Score LOS ANGELES – The University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team opened the Loyola Marymount Thanksgiving Classic on Friday evening in California, topping UC San Diego, 58-51.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*Sophomore Jordan Obi, fresh off her first Ivy League Rookie of the Week, registered her second double-double of the season, dropping a game-high 20 points and pulling in a tied career-high 10 rebounds.
 
*Senior Mia Lakstigala just missed her first career double-double by one rebound, recording 13 points and nine rebounds.
 
*Senior Kennedy Suttle had her second straight double-figure scoring game, scoring 11 points to go with seven rebounds.
 
*Senior Nikola Kovacikova scored seven points on a perfect 2-for-2 from the floor with both field goals from beyond the arc. She added a game-high four assists, as she leads the team in helpers with 14 through her three games played.
 
*Junior Kayla Padilla had a well-rounded stat line with nine points, four steals, three assists, two rebounds, and a block while not committing a personal four or a turnover.
 
How It Happened
Although the Quakers scored the first three of the game off a Kovacikova three, the Tritons built an early 8-3 lead through in the first three minutes of the game. However, Penn rallied back and went on a 17-0 run over a six-minute stretch to end the frame to carry a 20-8 advantage into the second quarter. Kovacikova and Obi both led the way offensively with six points each, while Kovacikova added three assists.
 
UC San Diego closed the gap slightly in the second quarter, cutting its deficit to single digits before the half. Penn scored six points in the 10-minute stretch with baskets by Suttle, Lakstigala and Padilla. Lakstigala led all scorer at the break with seven, while all five starters spread the offense out.
 
Lakstigala and Obi pushed the offense early in the third, hitting double figures for the game midway through, but the Tritons closed out the period on an 8-2 run to get within six with 10 minutes remaining.
 
The run continued for UC San Diego in the restart, outscoring the Quakers 11-4 in the first three minutes to take its first lead since early in the first, 47-46. However, Penn answered quickly with a layup by Obi and back-to-back long balls by Suttle and Padilla to reclaim the lead that held the rest of the way. The Quakers use an 8-0 stretch over six minutes to grind out the five-point victory.
 
Up Next
The Quakers wrap up their west coast trip on Saturday, taking on Memphis at the Classic. Tip is set for 6:30 p.m., eastern time.