STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team had its final game before the holiday break on Friday night, battling a back-and-forth matchup with Stony Brook before falling late, 75-69.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*Junior captain Kayla Padilla led all scorers with 29 points on 11-for-23 shooting with five three-pointers. It's her fifth game this season with over 20 points out of seven games.
 
*Padilla added season- and game-high six assists, as she's had at least five in the last four outings.
 
*Sophomore Jordan Obi had 18 points for her seventh game this season in double figures. She added a team-high eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block.
 
*Senior captain Mia Lakstigala added 12 points including a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line to go with seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
 
How It Happened
Penn didn't have a slow start in this game, scoring immediately off the tip when Suttle found Padilla for an easy right-side finish. The Quakers quickly shot out to a 6-2 advantage less than two minutes in after back-to-back layups by Obi, however, the Seawolves continued to battle to take their first lead by the 6:13 mark, with that being the only time the scored swayed in the first along with four ties.
 
By the end of the first, Padilla and Obi combined for 15 points as the game headed to the second frame knotted up at 19-19 following an and-one finish in the closing seconds by Obi.

End 1Q | Penn 19, Stony Brook 19

Obi draws the and-one finish to draw things even at the end of the first quarter! Padilla and Obi with a combined 15 points.#FightOnPenn pic.twitter.com/jN8w3LBcn1

— Penn WBB (@PennWBB) December 11, 2021

 
The threes started to fly in the second quarter, as Lakstigala and Padilla combined for five in the game by the second media timeout to give Penn its largest lead to that point of five points, 36-31, with 3:43 remaining before the break.

2Q 3:43 | Penn 36, Stony Brook 31

Lakstigala and Padilla already with a combined five threes at the second media timeout! Quakers with their largest lead of the game!#FightOnPenn pic.twitter.com/2LJSbJmtye

— Penn WBB (@PennWBB) December 11, 2021

 
In the final minutes of the half, the Seawolves hit an 8-0 run to push a slight three-point advantage, 39-36.
 
Out of the break, a four-point stretch for Stony Brook spread their lead to seven before Padilla knocked down a three-pointer. It was a back-and-forth battle until the Quakers closed the gap to three following three-straight buckets by Obi and a slip down the middle of the paint by Lakstigala to force a Seawolves' timeout at 52-49.

3Q 2:05 | Stony Brook 52, Penn 49

Quakers close the gap to three and force a Seawolves' timeout! Obi with three-straight buckets and Lakstigala makes this slip down the middle!#FightOnPenn pic.twitter.com/fDDUGGzHUB

— Penn WBB (@PennWBB) December 11, 2021

 
In the final frame, Stony Brook heat up to push its largest lead of 13 by the 6:35 mark but the Quakers didn't go away. Chipping away at the deficit, Penn got as close as five points following back-to-back baskets by Padilla with 4:52 remaining. The fight continued even in the final seconds when Lakstigala dumped one off to senior captain Kennedy Suttle in the paint with six second left, then Suttle continued to battle for a quick steal and Lakstigala getting sent to the line for two more points.
 
 
Up Next
The Quakers return to action after the holiday break, traveling to Morgan State on December 30 to wrap up the 2021 slate. Tip is set for 2 p.m.