Four storylines as Penn tips off Ivy League play
'Excited to get out there'
It’s all Ivy League for the rest of the regular season for Penn's women’s basketball team, beginning with Columbia on Saturday at the Palestra (2 p.m., ESPN+).
“I’m really excited for Ivy play because obviously, it's really competitive this year, said freshman center Katie Collins. "We’re just excited to get out here and hopefully win some games.”
Penn (9-4) is coming off a two-game road trip to Arizona. On Monday, the Quakers fell, 73-67, to the Big 12’s Arizona State in a game that saw 11 lead changes. Collins recorded her third double-double of the season with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
On Tuesday, the Quakers were victorious in their second outing in defeating Benedictine (Ariz.), 86-75. Senior Stina Almqvist, Penn’s leading scorer, notched a career-high 28 points.
Now, as Ivy play looms, Inquirer writer Conor Smith looks at the key storylines for this Quakers group.
On Tuesday, the Quakers were victorious in their second outing in defeating Benedictine (Ariz.), 86-75. Senior Stina Almqvist, Penn’s leading scorer, notched a career-high 28 points.
Now, as Ivy play looms, Inquirer writer Conor Smith looks at the key storylines for this Quakers group.
Freshman talent abounds
The Quakers feature six freshmen, and two have had an instant impact for coach Mike McLaughlin's team. Guard Sarah Miller leads the team in three-point percentage (.418) and three-pointers made (23).
Freshman talent abounds
The Quakers feature six freshmen, and two have had an instant impact for coach Mike McLaughlin's team. Guard Sarah Miller leads the team in three-point percentage (.418) and three-pointers made (23).
Miller broke out in Penn’s Big 5 Classic matchup against La Salle, scoring a career-high 21 points on 6-for-7 shooting from three. She was named the national freshman of the week by the United States Basketball Writers Association following this performance.
Miller broke out in Penn’s Big 5 Classic matchup against La Salle, scoring a career-high 21 points on 6-for-7 shooting from three. She was named the national freshman of the week by the United States Basketball Writers Association following this performance.
'Underclassmen doing big things'
The other first-year star for the Quakers has been center Katie Collins. The day-one starter is averaging 9.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and a league-high 1.9 blocks. Collins has been named Ivy League rookie of the week three times.
“It's definitely cool to see a lot of underclassmen doing big things this year for us. It’s really fun, and we really stick together because it's hard being younger and having a big role, but we help each other through it,” said Collins.
Gayle's evolved role
Gayle's evolved role
'It's on me'
Last season, point guard Mataya Gayle was the Ivy League and Big 5 rookie of the year.
This season, she has accepted an increased role as a facilitator in Mike McLaughlin’s offense and has been instrumental in the development of Miller and Collins. Gayle is averaging a team-high 4.2 assists, good for third in the conference.
“I think my role has changed a bit more to facilitating," Gayle said earlier this season. "When we have a flow, a lot of that [goes] through me as a point guard. I think that [facilitating the flow] is kind of the biggest part of my game, and when it’s going well, it’s on me. But when it’s going bad, it’s also on me."
Almqvist shining as No. 1 option
Almqvist shining as No. 1 option
'A tough matchup for anyone'
Last season, Stina Almqvist worked in a one-two punch with senior forward Jordan Obi. Since Obi went to Kentucky as a graduate transfer, Almqvist was poised to become the No. 1 option for the Quakers.
Through 13 games, the Swedish forward is averaging 19.1 points, which is second in the Ivy League, and eight rebounds.
“She’s a tough matchup for anyone. She’s got size to play the perimeter, size to play around the basket, and she has a really good feel for the game,” McLaughlin told The Inquirer before the season began.
Beating the best
Beating the best
Rounding out the top
Four Ivy teams have a winning record through the first leg of the season: Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, and Penn.
“This league is the seventh-rated conference in the country. ... We've got three really good teams [outside of Penn] in our league,” said McLaughlin.
Harvard (11-1), winner of nine straight, has an average margin of victory of 17.8 points. Senior guard Harmoni Turner leads the conference in scoring (21.3). Harvard has allowed an Ivy-best 53.3 points per game, the 15th lowest in the country.
Penn has an identical record as Columbia and Princeton at 9-4.