HACKENSACK, N.J. – The University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team advanced to the championship game of the FDU Christmas Classic after a 78-57 win over University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
The Quakers tallied their ninth win of the season and advanced to play Binghamton in the championship game at 1 p.m. tomorrow.
 
Quaker Notemeal
* Katie Collins (18) and Saniah Caldwell (17) combined for 35 points.
 
* Collins totaled 11 rebounds and five blocks.
 
* The Quakers shot 47 percent from the field.
 
* Penn outrebounded UMES 43-38.
 
* Four players scored in double figures (Njike, Collins, Caldwell, Sawyer)
 
* Penn led for 36:58 out of 40 minutes.
 
* The Quakers totaled 18 assists.
 
* Penn scored 40 points in the paint.
 
How It Happened
 
The Quakers got off to a cold start offensively, missing their first three shots before Simone Sawyer knocked down a pair of free throws to put the first points on the board and begin an offensive onslaught.
 
Penn went on to hit eight of their next 12 field goals while also adding seven points from the charity stripe.
 
Katie Collins and Tina Njike combined for 13 points in the first 10 minutes of the game.
 
Collins knocked down a pair of free throws with under a minute left in the quarter as Penn had its largest lead at 25-4.
 
After missing their first 15 shots from the field, the Hawks finally got a basket to go through the net at the end of the first quarter.
 
Penn led 25-6 at the end of the opening period.
 
The Hawks dormant offense finally awoke as they began the second quarter hitting four of their first five shots.
 
They began to have success from behind the arc, hitting four of nine shots from downtown in the second quarter.
 
However, the Quakers matched by continuing to attack the basket, totaling 24 points in the paint in the first half.
 
The Quakers took a 20 point lead with under two minutes left in the half as they began to run away with it.
 
Caldwell knocked down a pair of three-pointers in the second quarter as Penn continued to extend the lead.
 
Dayshawna Carter knocked down a pair of free throws for UMES for the final points of the second quarter, as the Quakers led 44-26 heading into the halftime locker room.
 
The Quakers opened the second half picking up where they left off as Tina Njike hit a post hook and Katie Collins added another three-pointer. 
 
Penn shot an efficient 5-11 from the field in the third quarter, while also adding six of eight free throws.
 
The Quakers extended their lead to 22 as Mataya Gayle hit a jumper to close out the third quarter.
 
Despite the Hawks outsourcing the Quakers 17-16 in the final period, Penn's lead was insurmountable as they cruised to a 78-57 victory.
 
Up Next
 
Penn will take on Binghamton in the FDU Christmas Classic championship game at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Dec. 30.
 
For the latest on Penn Women's basketball, follow @PennWBB on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.