Sophomore guard Mataya Gayle attempts a jumper against Yale on Feb. 1.
Credit: Lydia TongNEW HAVEN, C.T -- In the second game of a road trip weekend, Penn women’s basketball broke its three-game losing streak with a 80-60 victory over Yale.
“Our backs were up against the wall, and we came into this game knowing we needed a win,” both freshman forward Katie Collins and sophomore guard Mataya Gayle said after the game. The Quakers were able to do just that.
Penn (11-9, 2-5 Ivy) maintained the lead against Yale (2-18, 1-6 Ivy) for most of the evening. The Quaker offense kept up the pressure against the Bulldogs with 28 total rebounds and a 72.7% success in three-point shots. Across the board, senior guard Stina Almqvist scored 18 points, while Collins, junior guard Simone Sawyer, and Gayle each contributed 17.
“We started the game defensively and intensely,” said coach Mike McLaughlin. “All starting five [players] were really well-put together tonight.”
The game opened with the Quakers winning the tipoff, but the first points on the board came from a quick jumper from Yale guard Kiley Capstraw. However, for the rest of the first quarter, Penn largely dominated, thanks to its aggressiveness that persisted from the jump. The Quakers maintained a strong full-court defense through the first quarter. Gayle drove for the Quakers’ first points of the evening and went on to have eight of Penn’s first 13 points.
Gayle’s performance was a sign of things to come.
Following yesterday’s close game against Brown, the Quakers sought to develop a quick lead. By the end of the first quarter, the Quakers were up 26-16. Gayle would become Penn’s lead scorer in the first frame with 10 points for the Quakers — all from layups.
Penn’s three-point stellar performance also helped. They went 5-for-7 on three-pointers in the first half — a vast improvement from the previous night’s 20%. Collins contributed greatly, going 4-for-4 from three-point range and scoring a nearly season-high.
“I thought Katie Collins was composed … and took the threes when available,” McLaughlin said. “She was confident. She played really well.”
But Penn’s defense struggled against Yale’s corner jumpers and open cuts to the block — primarily from guard/forward Mackenzie Egger. Throughout the evening, the Bulldogs found openings in the corners of the court, allowing for Egger and guard Marisa Chapman to bank points.
Despite this weakness, Penn’s hard-fought efforts on offense — off fast breaks and steals — helped maintain its lead. The Quakers’ use of a trapping press also helped develop this lead. To end the half, they had 16 points just off turnovers. The Quakers entered the locker room leading 41-30.
The second half opened with consecutive plays by Collins. With an assist from Gayle, Collins opened the half with a three-pointer. On the next possession, she drove for a layup, which put her one point away from her season-high 18 points with 7:40 left to go in just the third quarter.
The Quakers maintained their aggressiveness and physicality throughout the third quarter. A fast-break layup from senior guard Lizzy Groetsch had the Penn bench on its feet. Gayle and Almqvist soon followed with a steal and a hard-fought rebound on the offensive boards.
“[We] rebounded the ball. Our commitment to rebounding the ball allowed us to play multiple defenses,” McLaughlin said.
With three minutes left in the third frame, the Bulldogs pushed into a full-court press in hopes of shrinking the lead, but it was no match for the Quakers’ momentum on both ends of the court. In short succession, a steal by Groetsch, a step-up from Sawyer, and an Almqvist layup extended Penn’s lead to 17 points.
The spotlight then shone on Sawyer. A three-point play from Sawyer extended the lead to 20 to close the third quarter. Another three-point play to start the fourth quarter surpassed her previous season-high of 14 points achieved just the night before. Sawyer scored 17 points across the evening.
“She’s a great defender. But now I think you’re starting to see that she can shoot it a little bit, and she can certainly athletically attack the basket.” McLaughlin said, “She was the best player on the floor for us tonight.”
In all, strong efforts across the fourth quarter drove Penn to the finish line with a dominating 80-60 victory. Four of the Red and Blue’s starters ended the matchup with double-digit points.
“I want them to enjoy this [win],” McLaughlin said. “It gives us a week to get better. I think it’s going to bring out the best in us.”
The Quakers have a week off after their hard-fought back-to-back matchups before facing Princeton on the road on Feb. 8.
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