If you look up "hitting the ground running" in the dictionary, you’ll surely find a picture of Penn women's basketball freshman forward Katie Collins.
After starting in her first two games for Penn over the weekend, Collins was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week.
The rookie is originally from Manasquan, N.J. — a basketball powerhouse in the Garden State — so it’s no surprise that Collins came in hot in her first games with the Red and Blue. In Friday’s season opener against Merrimack, Collins scored two points in the first two minutes of play and kept that intensity throughout the rest of the game, ending her collegiate career debut with nine points, 10 rebounds, and six blocks.
“[Collins] has a high basketball IQ..." coach Mike McLaughlin said. "She’s gonna take some learning experience in each game. She's got a high understanding of the game and where she’s at... It is kind of cool to see a kid at the first home game be able to just be out there and make a difference."
Collins carried this momentum into Sunday’s matchup against Maine. The newcomer racked up eight points, eight boards, five assists, and three steals and was integral to the Quakers’ hard-fought 56-52 win over the Black Bears.
In addition to adding strong defense to the team, Collins brings offensive depth with her 3-point potential, making for a well-rounded skill set that will be valuable for the Red and Blue’s Ivy League tournament campaign.
“You’ll see more [three-pointers] from her,” sophomore guard and 2024 Ivy League Rookie of the Year Mataya Gayle said of her teammate.
Penn women’s basketball will seek to protect the Palestra twice this week, taking on Siena College on Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. and Big 5 rival Saint Joseph's on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
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