The Quakers Lose Their Fifth Straight Game in the Ancient Eight 66 – 57 to the Lions
PHILADELPHIA, PA. 2/4/2022 –
The University of Pennsylvania is having trouble getting untracked in league play. Columbia visited the Palestra and won against the Red and Blue for the second time in nine days 66 – 57. The Lions remain undefeated in the Ivy League improving to 7 – 0 while Penn is 2 – 5.
It was the ability of Columbia to get to the basket that tilted the game in their direction. Forward Kaitlyn Davis scored a team-high 17 points and took down 15 rebounds in the contest. Fellow front court mate Jaida Patrick contributed 10 points and 12 boards, a collegiate-best, while Noa Comesana added 8 points and 3 caroms. Credit their ability to drive to the basket for their performance, and getting the ball from point guard Carly Rivera who set a career-mark handing out 9 assists.
“They did a great job around the rim,” said Penn Coach Mike McLaughlin. “They finished. The game got spread a little bit too much for us.”
Columbia took control with an 11 – 0 run in over three minutes midway through the third quarter to take a 49 – 35 lead.
Penn made a charge at Columbia getting to within 57 – 53 with just under 4 minutes to play on back-to-back three-pointers by Kayla Padilla and Jordan Obi followed by a basket by Sydnei Caldwell. The Quakers could not closer as the Lions withstood the run.
Early in the game Columbia got a lift from guard Abbey Hsu who made her first five three-point shots in the first half. She finished the game with 17 points. Forward Kitty Henderson recorded double-digits getting 10 points.
Caldwell, playing in her first game since January 17, set a season-high scoring a 20 points making 6 of 15 field goal attempts and 3 of 4 from distance. Caldwell gave Penn some energy in the first half scoring 9 of 11 points that gave her team a four-point lead at 26 – 22 midway through the second quarter.
“Sydnei was out for awhile,” McLaughlin said. “She worked hard for three weeks to get back. I thought she did great.”
Jordan Obi scored 12 points and grabbed 9 rebounds for the Red and Blue. Kayla Padilla added 11 points. Kennedy Suttle had 9 rebounds.
Columbia took a 51 -42 advantage in rebounding.
Penn falls to 7 – 12 overall and holds a tie for fifth place in the league with Cornell, one spot out of a tournament position. They trail fourth place Harvard by two and a half games.
“They understand where people before them have been,” said McLaughlin. “We’re not hiding from the fact the goal is to get there. They know there is a big challenge ahead of us getting there. The Harvard game Saturday hurt us when we had the chance to get that one. I think they’ll respond.”
It will be a quick turnaround for Penn in an Ivy Weekend. Cornell visits the Palestra Saturday. Tip off is 4 PM.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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