VILLANOVA, PA. — It’s “Big 5 is Philly” week but at Finneran Pavilion on Friday afternoon, it was all Quakers as Penn women’s basketball was able to take down La Salle 74-61 for fifth place.
In the inaugural Big 5 Women’s Classic, it was two rookies who shone the brightest for the Red and Blue (7-3).
Last week, Penn freshman guard Sarah Miller put up a career-high 16 points in a 114-39 win over Immaculata that saw Penn set a program record for the most number of points scored in a game. Today, Miller broke that mark in just the first two quarters of play, sitting at 18 points going into halftime. She finished the game with a team-leading 21 points.
“It feels good. I’m just happy my coaches [have] the trust in me,” Miller said.
Not to be outdone, fellow rookie and three-time Ivy League Rookie of the Week forward Katie Collins lit up the court coming out of the halftime break. After putting up no points in the first half of play, Collins caused La Salle (5-5, 1-0 Atlantic 10) problems as she became more involved in the game, finishing the day with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks.
“[Collins] is very consistent. She’s consistent in her work ethic and the way she prepares,” said coach Mike McLaughlin. “That's brilliant for someone, she just turned 18 … she has great control and is very coachable.”
La Salle took the tip-off, but the Quakers put up the first points on the board with a big three-pointer from junior guard Simone Sawyer. La Salle guard Ashleigh Connor quickly responded with a two-point jumper. The Quakers struggled as they amassed eight turnovers, but were able to find their footing as a streak of layups from across the Penn lineup were good for the Quakers to take the lead 11-9 to end the first quarter.
The second quarter saw Miller step into the spotlight. Despite Connor giving the Explorers their first lead of the day, driving home the layup off a turnover, Miller responded with a three-pointer with an assist from sophomore guard Mataya Gayle. This was soon followed by three more in the span of three minutes. Along with four perfect free throws, Miller finished the half with 18 points — good for over half of the team’s points.
“It really did boost our energy,” Miller said. “We … [trusted] each other, especially on defense, to … be at the right spots.”
Miller maintained her momentum at the start of the second half, opening play with another thunderous three-pointer. The Red and Blue’s veterans found their groove in the second half. Senior guard/forward and Big 5 leading scorer Stina Almqvist made two back-to-back layups in the third quarter and reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year Gayle made two free throws and two back-to-back jumpers in the fourth quarter.
A shift to a zone defense by the Explorers early in the fourth quarter caused problems for the Red and Blue. Four steals in five possessions closed the Quakers’ lead to single digits. But after the shaky start, the Quakers' offense put the game on ice. After a tense back-and-forth, two pull-up jumpers by Gayle brought the Red and Blue back to a double digit lead that they never let up.
“We did prepare for the [defense],” McLaughlin said. “We changed the inbound player after they scored.”
At the end of the game, Almqvist and Collins both recorded double-doubles with Gayle also coming close after she finished the game with 11 points and nine assists.
“To have two freshmen out there, I enjoy it,” McLaughlin said. “I enjoy the process of teaching, and slowing the game down to be able to just kind of let them out here and compete and let them learn how to learn how to do the next play better …. And, Sarah today showed up big time.”
Penn women’s basketball will take the court again on Friday, Dec. 20 against Delaware State with tip off currently slated for 11:30 a.m. at the Palestra.
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