PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team hosted an undefeated Duke in a Sunday matinee in The Palestra, dropping a 77-55 final.
 
The Quakers fall to 4-5 for the season, while the Blue Devils shift to 8-0.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*In her first game in The Palestra this season, junior captain Kayla Padilla led all scorers with 16 points, five assists, a rebound, and a steal. Through five games, she is averaging 21.2 points per game at a .440 shooting clip.
 
*Senior captain Kennedy Suttle posted her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds. She has registered double-digit rebounds in three out the five games played in this season, including a career-high 17 at St. Francis Brooklyn.
 
*Senior captain Mia Lakstigala also found double digits in scoring, adding 11 points with two three-pointers. Averaging 13.8 points per game through five contests this season, she has drilled multiple three-pointers in four games including a career-high four against Hartford to open the season.
 
*Coming off the bench for productive minutes was sophomore Michaela Stanfield, recording six points and six rebounds through 17 minutes of play.
 
*Both teams committed 15 turnovers, while Duke had eight steals and Penn had seven.
 
*The battle of the paint went in the favor of the Blue Devils, outscoring the Quakers inside, 46-30.
 
How It Happened
The first points of the game were not scored until over two minutes after the tip when Duke hit an 8-0 start before the media timeout. Coming out of the break, the Quakers put away their first bucket when Lakstigala knocked in a three-pointer.

1Q 4:29 | Duke 8, Penn 3

Lakstigala for THREE! Quakers on the board out of the media timeout!#FightOnPenn pic.twitter.com/GfEQpSCUzI

— Penn WBB (@PennWBB) December 5, 2021

 
The Blue Devils remained hot for the rest of the quarter into the second, while Penn had just one other basket in the first off a Kayla Padilla floater on a drive down the left lane.
 
In the second, Duke built up as much as a 23-point advantage by the 2:49 mark, but that didn't deter the Quakers. In the final two minutes before the half, Penn went on a 10-2 run off back-to-back three-pointers by Lakstigala and Padilla, and an and-one finish by Suttle to take a 40-25 deficit into the locker room.

2Q :13 | Duke 40, Penn 25

Back-to-back threes by Lakstigala and Padilla, and an and-one finish by Suttle! Quakers are closing the gap!#FightOnPenn pic.twitter.com/fjEshZPGRH

— Penn WBB (@PennWBB) December 5, 2021

 
After the break, the run continued for the Quakers, getting within 11 at the 6:57 mark when senior Nikola Kovacikova's defense earned her a steal then feeding Suttle in the transition for the finish and 44-33 score.

3Q 6:30 | Duke 44, Penn 33

Quakers are finding their groove! Kovacikova finds Suttle in transition and Penn is within 11!#FightOnPenn pic.twitter.com/5JxAfBkY2M

— Penn WBB (@PennWBB) December 5, 2021

 
However, the 11-point spread was as close as Penn would get the rest of the way with the Blue Devils answering to get their lead back into the 20's where it remained through the fourth quarter.
 
Up Next
Penn gets back into Big 5 play on Tuesday, hosting Saint Joseph's in The Palestra for a 7 p.m., tip. The game will be aired on NBCSports Philadelphia and ESPN+.