ITHACA, N.Y. – Senior captain Kayla Padilla and junior Jordan Obi combined 44 points to guide the University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team past Cornell in a crucial road victory in Ivy League play, 67-54.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*With the win, the Quakers move to 14-8 for the season, 6-3 in conference play. They remain in the top four of the league standings.
 
*Padilla finished with a game-high 23 points on 8-for-12 shooting, including 7-for-11 from beyond the arc. With the seven three-pointers, she moves into a tie for second in program history in three-point field goals with former teammate Phoebe Sterba who finished her career with 186. She now sits 10 away from the program record of 196 set in 2005 by Karen Habrukowich.
 
*Obi had a 21-point performance on 10-for-12 shooting while adding a game-high seven rebounds. Her 10 field goals ties a career mark, a bar she set back on November 29 at La Salle when she shot 10-for-13 from the floor.
 
*Senior captain Mandy McGurk posted a game-high six assists to go with five rebounds, three rebounds, and two steals. Her six assists tie her career high for the seventh time.
 
*Freshman Simone Sawyer had a well-rounded effort as well, registering a game-high four steals, seven points, three rebounds, and three assists.
 
*Junior Floor Toonders tied Obi for a game-high seven rebounds, while adding six points and two assists.
 
*Off the bench, senior Sydnei Caldwell chipped in five points and two steals.
 
*The Quakers shots 50 percent from the floor (28-for-56), the fourth time this season they at least hit 50 percent.
 
How It Happened
The Big Red kicked off the scoring with a three from the right wing, but that spurred the Quakers into nine-straight points ignited by Padilla with a jumper at the top of the key. It was followed Padilla finding Toonders inside for a layup before McGurk continued with a jumper in transition and a three from the right corner.
 
The score continued to separate in favor of Penn the rest of the frame, nearly getting to a double-digit lead by the end of the quarter when Padilla drilled a three with 20 seconds left, 22-13.
 
Four free throws by Cornell opened the second quarter to close the gap slightly, but Padilla answered with another three to eliminate any momentum swing. Obi and Caldwell put together the rest of the half for the Quakers, as Obi put away five-straight points on a three and a jumper before Caldwell hammered home a corner three to put Penn up by double-digits for the first time in the game, 33-21, with 3:17 left.
 

2Q 3:15 | Penn 33, Cornell 21

Back-to-back threes from the Quakers! Obi hits the first one and Caldwell follows in the corner to push Penn ahead by double digits. Timeout Cornell. #FightOnPenn pic.twitter.com/tmBVqpJCZW

— Penn WBB (@PennWBB) February 4, 2023

 
In the closing minutes, Obi capped off the Quaker scoring with a jumper to help Penn carry a 35-26 advantage into the locker room. Padilla and Obi paced the squad through the first half, combining for 20 points, as the Quakers shot 48.3 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.
 
On the restart, the Big Red closed the gap to seven points in the initial four minutes. However, it fired the Quakers up, putting together a 17-0 stretch including three straight buckets from deep by Padilla. Toonders capped off the quarter, connecting on a pick-and-roll with Obi for the layup underneath, as Penn took a substantial 56-32 advantage into the final quarter.
 

In case you were wondering, Kayla Padilla is REALLY GOOD.

She drills THREE STRAIGHT from deep and she makes this a 22-point game! The senior captain is up to 20 points including 6-for-9 from three. #FightOnPenn pic.twitter.com/wItZrgvNUO

— Penn WBB (@PennWBB) February 4, 2023

 
The Big Red won the fourth, 22-11, but it wasn't enough to close the deficit from the third. Obi had eight of the points in the quarter, and Padilla drilled her seventh three of the game to cap off the scoring for the Quakers.
 
Up Next
The Quakers return home next weekend for their next Ivy matchup, hosting Harvard on Saturday in The Palestra. Tip is set for 2 p.m., for our Equity and Inclusion/National Girls and Women in Sports game. Prior to the game, Penn will host a National Girls and Women In Sports clinic in Rockwell Gymnasium, where we'll welcome young girls to learn a variety of sports from Penn female athletes. For just $8, they'll gain access to the clinic, a food voucher, a ticket to our game against Harvard, and be a part of an autograph session following the game. To sign up, click HERE.