After another loss, it’s now or never for Penn women’s basketball.
Falling to Harvard by double digits for the second time this year — this time, with a score of 62-44 — the Quakers (15-11, 6-7 Ivy) now leave their dreams of an Ivy League Championship berth up to their final regular-season matchup against Princeton. One game above Brown in conference standings, Penn still has a path to securing its spot.
“[The team is] very aware of what’s happening. They know if we win one more, we’ll end up where we want to end up,” coach Mike McLaughlin said. “They understand that we control our destiny. … What it looks like is we get some rest, come back, get a little bit better, and prepare for the biggest game of year on Saturday.”
Penn held close to the Crimson (21-4, 10-3) through the first half but lost control of the game by the third quarter — similar to the last matchup between these teams in January. The star of the game was Harvard guard and the Ivy League’s second-highest scorer Harmoni Turner, who ended the game with 24 points and four made threes.
Despite their previous loss to the Crimson, the Quakers have become a new team since facing Harvard at the beginning of the season. In January, the Red and Blue were tied for the worst record in conference play and shot below 30% from beyond the arc. Now, Penn is tied for the best conference record in the month of February and the team has shot above 40% this month.
To start the match, with the Quakers’ shot clock winding down, senior guard Stina Almqvist threw up a desperation heave to the rim. Almqvist then followed through on recovering the rebound and kicked out the ball to sophomore guard Mataya Gayle — who quickly demonstrated the team’s improved shooting with a made three-pointer to open the scoring.
Continuing the theme of sloppy play, both teams struggled to score for most of the first quarter. Harvard forced an impressive seven turnovers against Penn while Turner uncharacteristically missed her first four shots.
As time wound down in the first frame, it was the Quakers who pulled ahead with a score of 12-8 heading into the second quarter.
With more of the same on the horizon, Harvard continued to force turnovers while Penn’s perimeter defense forced tough shots. As the Quakers pulled away ever so slightly, a familiar foe finally caught fire.
Down by six with less than three minutes in the half, Turner awoke on the offensive end. Scoring seven straight points during a late 11-4 Crimson run, Turner’s momentum tied the game up at the half despite Penn’s best efforts.
As in the last matchup, Penn came out of the locker room falling further under the pressure of Harvard’s defense. Halfway through the third frame, the Quakers could only muster two points as three straight layups by Harvard — including two impressive reverses — by guard Elena Rodriguez and Turner put Penn in a deficit.
Once again finding itself close in scoring with three minutes left in the quarter, Harvard had another electric scoring push from Turner. The Crimson were able to secure a double-digit lead for the first time all game, pulling ahead 45-34.
“I just didn’t think we had enough offensive flow,” McLaughlin said.
As history looked to repeat itself, Harvard once again pulled away late. A flurry of shots from Turner and buckets from Rodriguez buried Penn with a final score of 62-44, and the Crimson never relinquished the double-digit lead they gained by the end of the third quarter.
After this loss, Penn will look to win its last regular-season game of the year — senior day against Princeton at the Palestra — as it is the final hope for an outright spot in Ivy Madness. One game above Brown in conference rankings, Penn still has a path to securing its spot.
To move on, one team must have a better conference record. If both teams tie their records, the decision of who will go to the playoffs depends on the NCAA NET rankings, which Penn has a commanding lead in.
The Quakers’ matchup against Princeton on senior day will be March 8 at 2 p.m. at the Palestra.
“We can prepare to play Saturday and we can take time to celebrate [Almqvist and senior guard Lizzy Groetsch] as well.” McLaughlin said. “We certainly will celebrate them … and their impact in our program, both in different ways. I’m excited to celebrate them, not only this week, but for many years to come.”
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