The women’s basketball team concluded their three-game California road trip on Sunday by upending UC San Diego 76-68 in La Jolla. The Quakers led wire to wire. They were up 27-21 after the first quarter and 47-40 at halftime.
Fourth-year forward Jordan Obi played like Superwoman in the first half. She scored 18 points and shot 7-7 from the field, including 3-3 from the three-point line.
UC San Diego got as close as 51-47 with 7:44 left in the third quarter, but Penn responded with a 14-6 run and led 65-53 headed into the final period.
Four Quakers scored in double figures. Obi, who played all 40 minutes, finished with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks, 4 assists, and 3 steals. First-year guard Mataya Gayle scored 12 points and dished out a game-high 5 assists. Third-year guard Lizzy Groetsch had 10 points and a game-high 9 rebounds. First-year guard Abby Sharpe was perfect from the field and had 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists.
The women’s basketball team (4-2) takes on Big 5 foe La Salle (3-2) on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 6 p.m. at the Palestra.
The men’s basketball team defeated Monmouth 76-61 on Sunday in the Cathedral of College Basketball Classic at the Palestra.
Penn’s guards played well in the win; first-year guards Sam Brown and Tyler Perkins had 16 and 15 points, respectively, third-year guard George Smith scored 10 points, and fourth-year guard Clark Slajchert added 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Monmouth was ahead 17-10 at the 12:10 mark in the first half. The Red & Blue pulled even at 19-19, and then went on a 20-8 run. The Quakers led 39-27 at intermission.
Third-year forward Nick Spinoso scored a layup to open the second half and Perkins followed up a jumper. Monmouth scored on a dunk, and then Perkins hit a three, giving Penn a 46-29 lead.
The lead remained in double digits until the 8:22 mark, when a Monmouth three-pointer cut the Red & Blue’s advantage to 59-52. But the Hawks got no closer than 7 and the Quakers cruised the rest of the way.
Penn had 18 assists and committed only 8 turnovers. They shot 50% from the field (30-60) and tied a season high with 12 three-pointers (12-25). Brown, Perkins, and Slajchert made three threes each.
Next up for the men’s basketball team is the Big 5 Classic on Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Wells Fargo Center.
