PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team tips off 2024 with its first Ivy League action of the season on Saturday, making the trek to the New York for a clash with Columbia. Tip is set for 2 p.m.
 
GAME 14: PENN (8-5, 0-0 Ivy League) at COLUMBIA (9-4, 0-0 Ivy League)
Saturday, January 6, 2024 | 2:00 PM
New York, N.Y. | Levien Gymansium
Watch on ESPN+ ($) | Int'l Stream | Live Stats | History
 
The Columbia Series
• Saturday's matchup against the Lions is the 74th in program history with the Quakers holding a 52-21 lead in the all-time series.
 
• The two squads split the season series last year, each winning on their home courts.
 
• The Lions won the last matchup on February 3 in New York, 72-50.
 
• Penn's longest win streak against Columbia is 18 games, stretching from 2012-20. Columbia's longest streak was three games from 1988-89.
 
•In the last 10 meetings, Penn sports a 7-3 record.
 
• At Levien Gymnasium, the Quakers hold a 20-16 all-time record against the Lions.
 
• The Quakers have scored 4,982 points in the all-time matchup, averaging 68.25 points per game.
 
Last Time We Met
• The Lions capped off the split season series on their home court last year with a 72-50 decision.
 
• Kayla Padilla led all Penn scorers with 18 points, including 6-for-7 at the line.
 
• Jordan Obi recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
 
• Off the bench, Stina Almqvist chipped in 10 points.
 
• Not the best shooting outing for either team, the Quakers shot 32.1 percent from the floor while the Lions shot 39.1 percent.
 
Penn's Last Time Out
• The Quakers returned from a three-week hiatus last weekend, scoring a pair of victories in The Palestra over Maine and Gwynedd Mercy.
 
• On Saturday, freshman Mataya Gayle pieced together a season-best 28 points to guide Penn past the Black Bears, 72-69, overcoming a nine-point deficit and outscoring Maine, 23-18, in the final frame.
 
• She was joined in double figures by senior captain Obi (15) and junior Almqvist (14). The trio all rank in the top eight in the Ivy League in scoring.
 
• On Sunday, they capped off 2023 and the non-conference portion of their schedule with a throttling 89-34 win over the Division III Griffins.
 
• Six Quakers scored in double figures, led by a pair of 14-point outings by Obi and Gayle.

Gayle Continues To Impress
• After another stellar weekend on the court, Gayle earned a flurry of awards again in the early part of her collegiate career.
 
• She secured her third Ivy League Rookie of the Week honor.
 
• She was named Big 5 Player of the Week for the first time this season.
 
• USBWA named her the Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week, the first time a Quaker earned the honor since Kayla Padilla in 2019.
 
• Gayle ranks seventh in the Ivy in scoring (15.5) and fourth in steals (1.8), both tops among all freshmen.
 
Stat Leaders
• Penn has three Quakers that rank in the top eight in the Ivy League in scoring: Almqvist in fourth (15.8), Gayle in seventh (15.5), and Obi in eighth (15.2).
 
• Obi leads Penn and Ivy League in blocks with 20. She also leads Penn in rebounding at 7.2 through 13 games, good enough for fifth in the league. Additionally, she is tied for seventh in the Ivy League in steals per game (1.6).
 
• Outside of her other scoring rankings, Gayle ranks fourth in the league in steals (1.8).
 
• Penn is third in points per game (69.0), fourth in field goal percentage (.422), and second in team free throw percentage (.758).