PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team celebrated Senior Day with a 79-54 victory over Dartmouth on Saturday at The Palestra.
 
Prior to the game, the Quakers honored their five seniors: Kennedy Suttle, Meg Hair, Nikola Kovacikova, Mia Lakstigala, and manager Emily Eiler.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*All four seniors scored points in the game, including Hair, the first of the season for the senior captain who missed much of the year due to injury.
 
*Jordan Obi led all scorers with 16 points and missed her seventh double-double of the year with nine rebounds.
 
*Kayla Padilla added 14 points with three from beyond the arc.
 
*Lakstigala posted a well-rounded stat line with 12 points, five rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block.
 
*All active Quakers played in the game, as the bench contributed 28 points led by Silke Milliman with eight points on 3-for-4 shooting.
 
*With the win, Penn extended its win streak against the Big Green to 14 games, as well as 11-straight victories against Dartmouth in The Palestra. Head coach Mike McLaughlin is now 21-3 against Dartmouth, sealing up another season sweep.
 
How It Happened
The Quakers wasted no time building an early lead in the game, scoring the first 13 points of the game by the 5:56 mark. In that stretch, Hair scored her first bucket of the season after her season-long injury, drilling a three from the left side on her first attempt.
 

SHE'S BACK! First points of the season for senior captain Meg Hair... on Senior Day! We can't make this stuff up...#FightOnPenn pic.twitter.com/J9jVsoJbiA

— Penn WBB (@PennWBB) February 26, 2022

 
The Penn defense held Dartmouth scoreless until midway through the first when they capitalized on a layup. As the quarter came to a close, Obi hit a step-back jumper to give the Quakers a comfortable 26-11 advantage at the break.
 

End 1Q | Penn 26, Dartmouth 11

Quakers in complete control through the first quarter! Penn is shooting 66.7 percent from the floor, led by a perfect outing by Jordan Obi on 4-for-4 shooting for nine points!#FightOnPenn pic.twitter.com/eZXxPZySM7

— Penn WBB (@PennWBB) February 26, 2022

 
The Quakers answered their 26-point first quarter with an identical one on the second frame, shooting an impressive 57 percent from the floor for the first half with nine three-pointers. The 52-point half was the second time this season that Quakers scored 50-plus points and it missed a program record for points in a half by just five. Penn scored 57 back in 2019 against Siena.
 
A more even third quarter had each team putting away 16 points, but the Quakers wouldn't give up their double-digit lead and capitalized on gaps in the defense in the paint. Obi pulled in three offensive rebounds in one possession to get a strong finish inside, and Mandy McGurk hit a floater at the buzzer by driving into some space down the lane.
 

Mandy McGurk pulls up the floater to beat the buzzer and put Penn up 24 headed to the final quarter!#FightOnPenn pic.twitter.com/f6aIzJ6abv

— Penn WBB (@PennWBB) February 26, 2022

 
The fourth quarter was dedicated to the seniors in the closing minutes, getting a standing ovation from the fans as they walked off The Palestra floor for the final time in their collegiate careers.
 

FINAL | Penn 79, Dartmouth 54

Quakers win on Senior Day! All four seniors register points, and Penn adds its seventh win in @IvyLeague play!#FightOnPenn pic.twitter.com/9gUBTHqicw

— Penn WBB (@PennWBB) February 26, 2022

 
Up Next
The Quakers wrap up the regular season on Friday next week, traveling to rival Princeton for a 7 p.m., tip. The game will be broadcasted on ESPNews.