Penn Eliminated in Women’s Ivy Madness

Princeton Defeats Penn 60 – 47 in Semifinal

PRINCETON, NJ 3/10/2023 –

Ivy Madness lasted one game for the University of Pennsylvania Quakers as they lose to the Princeton Tigers for the third time this season 60 – 47 at Jadwin Gym. The team fell behind early, but showed character in coming back. However, the hill was too steep to climb especially against a quality team like the Tigers, the number one seed.

Tigers guard Kaitlyn Chen scored a game-high 24 points. Kayla Padilla led the Red and Blue with 20 points, 17 came after the first quarter.

“It’s a big hump to get over,” Penn Coach Mike McLaughlin said. “We had conversations about playing the next play and don’t worry about the score, execute and play a little better. And we did that. I thought they did a phenomenal job of doing that. We definitely ran out of steam at the end, and exhausted so much to try to get back in the game emotionally and physically. I’m so proud of this group.”

The Start

Princeton scored the first 16 points of the game. Penn finally got on the scoreboard on a steal and layup by guard Mandy McGurk at the 2:14 mark. The Tigers answered getting the next 3 points and led 19 – 2 after the first 10 minutes. Princeton was focused on getting a good start.

“It was important especially after some of the slow starts we had,” said Princeton Coach Carla Berube. “I don’t think we sustained it well. But it was important.”

The Red and Blue wound up shooting 1 for 13 in the opening quarter.

Making a Game of It

The second and third quarter went to Penn. The half ended when McGurk got the ball with 3 seconds to go and broke open to get off a long three-pointer that went in to cut the gap to 32 – 21 at halftime. The Quakers won the quarter 19 – 13. The shot gave the team a lift.

“It was a huge spark,” Padilla said about the McGurk bucket. “When you have plays like that its a huge momentum swing. So we went into the second half feeling amped and ready to go. I think that translated into the third quarter. Big plays like that, they are the intangibles and making big shots like that, that’s what changes games.”

The third quarter went towards Penn 19 -14, and the teams entered the last quarter with Princeton holding a 46 – 40 lead. Penn Coach Mike McLaughlin saw improvement in execution as the reason for the charge.

“They did a good job of guarding everything we ran, and we were a bit predictable playing over the top of the ball,” said McLaughlin. “I think we opened the floor up and that opened the game up for us. Once we back cut it and made them guard our second and third and I thought we did a really good job of that. But starting the game that slow is a really difficult hill to climb.”

The Ending

However, the hill was steep and took some steam out if the team who got outscored 14 – 7 in the last quarter. Princeton got the first basket by Ellie Mitchell, then the teams dug in on defense. Julia Cunningham got the next points for the Tigers. Penn forward Jordan Obi responded to cut the gap to 50 – 42. Chen put the game away with back-to-back buckets. The Quakers would only put 5 more points on the scoreboard.

What the Numbers Say

Penn shot 17 of 51 and 5 of 19 from beyond the arc. Eliminating the first quarter the Quakers made 42% from the floor and 5 of 15 from distance. But the opening 10 minutes can not be eliminated. Padilla made 7 of 21 and 2 of 7 from three-point land. She was a perfect 4 for 4 from the free throw line. Jordan Obi pulled down 8 rebounds.

Chen made 11 of 21 shots. As a team the Tigers were good on 25 of 56 and only 1 of 10 from the three-point line. Mitchell recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Madison St. Rose scored 12 points.

Up Next

Princeton goes the the ivy final with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.

Penn would like to play more this season. Will they get an WNIT bid?

Boxscore

Written By: Glenn Papazian

Contact: glenn@phillycollegesports.com

Mandy McGurk Running the Penn Offense

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