Following their 22-win season, second straight Ivy League Championship Game appearance, and a first round victory in the WNIT, the women’s basketball team will get ready for the 2018-19 season with an 11-day trip to Spain and France in August.
The Red and Blue will travel to Madrid, Valencia, and Barcelona before ending their excursion in Paris.
“One of the main goals I have as a coach is for my players to have a well-rounded experience during the course of their four years at Penn,” says Head Coach Mike McLaughlin. “A trip like this not only allows our players the opportunity to grow as a team on the basketball court, but also gives them a chance to explore different cultures, meet new people, and open their eyes to a world of possibilities. We are extremely grateful to Dr. Grace Calhoun, our administration, the University, and our dedicated alumni for affording us this incredible opportunity.”
Returning Quakers include rising sophomores Eleah Parker and Michae Jones, and rising senior Ashley Russell.
Parker, the unanimous Ivy League Rookie of the Year and a Second-Team All-Ivy selection, was the second-leading scorer on last season’s squad with 11.5 points per game. She also averaged 7.9 rebounds per game, had 62 blocks, and shot .473 from the field.
Jones, voted “Most Improved” by her teammates, started 12 games and grew as an individual both on and off the court.
Russell, voted “Miss Intangible,” had a breakout 2017-18 campaign, starting 29 games and averaging 7.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest. Against Dartmouth on Feb. 24, she had a career-high 21 points, draining 9 of her 14 shots. She also played a key role in the Quakers’ 74-59 win over Temple on Jan. 21, which earned the Red & Blue the Big 5 Championship.
The end-of-summer outing will mark the program’s second trip to Europe in the McLaughlin era. The Quakers previously traveled to Italy prior to the 2014-15 season, visiting Milan, Venice, Florence, and Rome.
