HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Settling in quickly from the jump, the University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team put together a team effort, picking up a 67-55 victory at Hofstra Saturday afternoon at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.
Simone Sawyer put together her best performance since her freshman year with 21 points and nine rebounds in 34 minutes as the Quakers improve to 3-1 to begin the season. The Pride fall to 1-2.
Quaker Notemeal
*Penn improves to 3-0 all-time against Hofstra in the first-ever meeting on Long Island.
*Making her first start of the year,
Simone Sawyer poured in a season-high 21 points on 50 percent (5-for-10) shooting, going 3-of-4 from beyond-the-arc and 8-of-8 from the free throw line. She also recorded a team-high nine rebounds.
*
Katie Collins was the other Quaker to finish in double figures with 13 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
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Saniah Caldwell scored eight points with five assists, and four rebounds in 36 minutes.
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Ruke Ogbevire led the second unit with eight points off the bench.
Gabriella Kelley had five,
Brooke Suttle four.
*The Quakers shot 39.6 percent (21-for-53) from the field and converted 10 of their 24 three-point attempts. Penn also shot 88.2 percent (15-for-17) from the free throw line.
How It Happened
The game opened in unusual fashion, with Hofstra taking a 2–0 lead before the clock even started after a technical foul was issued before the opening tip.
Penn shook it off quickly and settled into an offensive rhythm.
Simone Sawyer put the Quakers on the board with a three-pointer—the first of her three on the afternoon—and senior
Saniah Caldwell made her presence felt early with six first-quarter points. They were two of five Quakers to score in the opening 10 minutes.
Penn stretched its lead further in the second quarter, going up nine after a pair of free throws from Sawyer. Hofstra broke its scoring drought with a 3-pointer from Alarice Gooden, and the teams traded baskets the rest of the way. The Quakers took a six-point advantage, 37-31, into halftime.
The third quarter brought more of the same, with Penn finding success both inside and from deep. Sawyer continued her strong outing, posting nine points and five rebounds in the period. Forward
Katie Collins added a steady performance of her own, scoring 13 points and knocking down three of her six attempts from beyond the arc.
Penn kept the cushion near double digits throughout the fourth quarter and closed out a 67–55 win.
Up Next
The Quakers return home Tuesday evening to face Norfolk State at The Palestra. Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
For the latest on Penn Women's basketball, follow @PennWBB on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.
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