Welcome back to Penn basketball as the Quakers take on first-place Yale at the Palestra in Penn's sixth conference game. The Red and Blue stand at 2-3 in conference play, coming off a split weekend where they defeated Cornell at the buzzer but fell hard to Columbia. Here's the liveblog.
Everyday in Las Vegas, the nervous high rollers twitchily look on from around card tables as their livelihood hangs in limbo.
On the sidelines of UNLV’s basketball court for the last 19 seasons, the scene was not too different. Head basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian could be seen crouched on the sidelines with a towel stuffed in his mouth as he watched his Runnin’ Rebels go all in night after night.
This image of Tarkanian is iconic, but more historic are the achievements the late coach will leave behind at UNLV following his death on Wednesday at the age of 84.
With an astonishing career coaching record of 706-198, along with a national championship in 1990 and three more final four appearances, Tarkanian will go down as one of the greatest coaches in collegiate basketball history.
Tarkanian, who holds the fifth highest winning percentage all-time, was known for having an immediate impact when he was hired. He led three teams to 20-plus win seasons, and did so in his first season in each program.
But, Tarkanian wasn’t just a kickstart; he was also a pillar of continual success. His final four appearances, which span 15 seasons, were highlights in a career where 29 of his 31 seasons at the helm boasted 20 games or more.
Additionally his 1987 final four team set an NCAA record of 37 wins and his 1991 final four squad finished the regular season undefeated - an achievement that wouldn’t be matched until 2014 by the Wichita State Shockers.
A frequent critic of the NCAA, Tarkanian spent much of his life off the court embattled with the organization. Long Beach State, UNLV and Fresno State were all put under NCAA probation as a result of recruiting violations by Tarkanian. He would sue the NCAA twice, both cases reached a settlement out of court.
Tarkanian, who has battled health issues for the last couple of years, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. At the ceremony he struggled to speak a few words and relied on a walker for support.
Despite his history of questionable recruiting, there was an outpouring of sadness and remorse over his death by many high-profile members of the basketball community.
Tarkanian leaves behind an expansive legacy. But what will always stand out most, is the sweat pouring down his bald head onto the towel tightly wedged in his mouth as he anxiously waited to see if his Rebels would sink the final shot.
Although it may be hard to believe and the weather still seems a little too cold, Penn men’s lacrosse is less than three days away from its season opener. Coming off an incredibly successful season, one in which the veteran-laden squad soared to an Ivy League title, the Quakers have high expectations. Despite returning eight of their top 10 scorers from 2014, an Ivy repeat is by no means guaranteed,. With that in mind, we break down the biggest obstacle Penn will confront as it tries to return to the NCAA Tournament.
Senior Sports Editor Riley Steele: Without a doubt, Penn will once again be a force that threatens both other powers within the Ivy League and across the country. With the Red and Blue returning so many potent scorers, particularly senior attacks Isaac Bock and Chris Hupfeldt, scoring will not be a problem in remaining competitive with squads like Harvard and Cornell.
From my perspective, the biggest challenge confronting the Quakers will be getting through a rough schedule. Lacrosse Magazine currently has the Red and Blue ranked 11th entering the season, but there are plenty of games on Penn’s schedule that could determine how high they rise in the polls. Currently, No. 8 Maryland, No. 15 Penn State, No. 16 Yale, No. 12 Harvard and No. 10 Cornell are all on the docket for the Quakers, not to mention a matchup with the team ranked fifth in the ACC standings at the end of the season.
While Penn is accustomed to playing tough teams – the Quakers faced off with both Duke and Denver in nonconference play last year – things won’t come easy to the Red and Blue in 2015.
Sports Editor Laine Higgins: This year, the devil may be in the details for the Quakers. While Penn was certainly dominant in the final few games of the season, which culminated in the school’s first ever Ivy League title, the play from the Red and Blue was still not mistake-free.
Consider the Quakers’ face off win-loss percentage from last season: a middling 48.4 percent. That statistic is not bad; however, there is room for improvement. This task will fall upon the shoulders of returning midfields junior Rob Savage and senior Joe McCallion – Penn’s leading faceoff specialists from the 2013-2014 season.
Now, compare Penn’s number in that department to the highest ranked teams on the docket for the 2014-15 schedule: No. 8 Maryland and No. 10 Cornell. Last year, the Terps and the Big Red boasted faceoff win-loss percentages of 64.6 and 51.0, respectively.
Associate Sports Editor Tommy Rothman: It's hard to find big holes in this team, primarily because it's a very solid squad. But one thing that could be a cause for concern is the goalkeeper issue. Brian Feeney played all but 14 minutes last season, but he's out of the picture after graduating in May.
So what do the Quakers do now? Senior John Lopes figures to take over, assuming he doesn't get beaten out by junior Jimmy Sestilio, sophomore Ahmed Iftikhar or freshman Brian Zappala. Lopes hasn't provided us enough of a sample size for us to make a real judgment regarding his abilities — and if we did judge him on the small sample size, the conclusion wouldn't be pretty.
Feeney was one of the Ivy League's top goalies last year, so replacing him will be a tall task. Assuming the Quakers see a drop-off in goalkeeping production, the question will be whether the defense in front of the goalkeeper and the Penn offense can step up and soften the blow after Feeney's departure.
Penn wasn't among the Ivy League's top scoring teams last year, so there is room for the Quakers to improve on that end. But if they don't, they'll likely find that they can no longer rely on their excellent goalie as a safety net.
Meg Markham of Penn women's lacrosse just keeps adding to her long list of accolades.
Markham, a senior defender, was named a preseason All-American on Tuesday by Lacrosse Magazine. The Manhasset, N.Y., native was also named on Inside Lacrosse's list and is one of just two non-ACC players — and the only player from the Ancient Eight — to receive the honor.
Markham garnered Ivy League Defender of the Year honors in 2014, and was named a first-team All-American at the conclusion of the season. Her bevy of achievements also includes All-Ivy and All-Region awards.
In addition to naming Markham to the preseason All-American first-team, Inside Lacrosse bestowed honorable mention recognition upon three Quakers: Markham's fellow seniors goalie Lucy Ferguson and defenseman Taylor Foussadier, and junior midfielder Nina Corcoran. As a team, the Red and Blue are ranked 13th in the nation, putting coach Karin Corbett's squad just ahead of #14 Princeton for the top ranking in the Ivy League.
Penn won its eighth straight Ivy championship last year, setting an Ivy League women's-lacrosse record thanks in large part to Markham's league-leading 43 caused turnovers. The Quakers will begin their 2015 season on February 21 and play their home opener on March 1. Their Ivy title defense won't begin until March 7th, when the Red and Blue visit Brown.
Should the Quakers finish atop the Ancient Eight again this season to make it nine in a row, they would break the school record they share with men's fencing for most consecutive conference crowns, which won eight straight Ivy titles from 1976 to 1983.
While it might not have been the weekend Penn women’s basketball had hoped for, freshman forward Michelle Nwokedi stood tall in her first career start and earned Ivy League Rookie of the Week for the third time this season.
The Missouri City, Texas, native put up double-doubles in both of her games this weekend as the Quakers split games with Cornell and Columbia. Nwokedi averaged 15.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5.0 blocks on the weekend, while shooting over 50 percent from the field.
Nwokedi had previously won the award on Dec. 1 and Jan. 26, while also being named Eastern College Athletic Conference South Co-Rookie of the Week on Dec. 1. She is Penn’s second player to be named Ivy League Rookie of the Week this season, as Anna Ross earned the honor earlier in the season.
Nwokedi started the first game of her career in Penn’s win over Columbia and responded well, posting a career-high in points and blocks with 19 and seven respectively. Her seven blocks is tied fourth-most in school history behind three games from then-freshman Sydney Stipanovich last season.
Last season, Stipanovich was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week eight times en route to a unanimous selection as Ivy League Rookie of the Year.
Nwokedi started the season slow, but has steadily been earning more and more playing time culminating in her move into the starting lineup on Saturday. For the season, the freshman is averaging 6.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in just 13.5 minutes per game.
Despite playing very few minutes, Nwokedi ranks second on the team in rebounds and blocks and fourth in points. After Saturday’s successful performance, the freshman could be seeing starts down the stretch for the Quakers as they battle through the rest of their Ivy League slate.
Penn basketball found very little success offensively Saturday against Columbia and what offense the Quakers did have came in the form of Sam Jones. The freshman forward scored a career-high 23 points while making seven three-pointers.
His performance was even better when one considers the fact that he played with torn ligaments in his left elbow, something coach Jerome Allen revealed after the game.
“I think all the shots he hit were contested," Allen said of Jones. "He made tough shots. But to his credit, he stepped up and made some plays for us. I think it’s documented what he brings to the table in terms of being a legitimate threat on the perimeter. I wasn’t shocked how he shot the ball."
Allen also praised the freshman's work as a whole this season
“He’s a Penn guy. He's a Penn Quaker," Allen said. "He’s great in the locker room. He’s part of the fraternity. He’s a part of campus; he has a ton of friends and he mixes and mingles. Couple that with basketball, he’s patient. He’s waited his turn. Whenever he was called on, he’s tried to give us what we’ve asked for and as his career furthers, he’ll be better and better.
"You’re talking 18 games under his belt in terms of collegiate experience. Certain things they have, certain things they don’t have. But his vision, his strength, his overall pace, all of that stuff will get better. The attributes he does have right now will allow us to win basketball games."
While his coach praised him after the game, Jones was quick to give credit to both coach and his teammates for his recent success.
"Coach has helped me out a lot, making me be more patient reading screens and stuff," Jones said. "The best thing is that my teammates have been really supportive even though I haven't shooting the ball [well]. I had a stretch where I didn't hit a shot for a four or five games but they kept telling me to shoot the ball, kept giving me the ball in great spots."
While the torn ligament would normally hurt a lot of players, Jones joked that it has helped him out this weekend.
“I think it’s been helping me out," Jones said. "Since I did have it, I’ve been making everything. I don’t know what to say about that. It doesn’t bother me too much so it’s not that big of a deal.”
Penn basketball was losing from the opening tip against Cornell until the final minute when a three-pointer from freshman forward Sam Jones and a floater in the paint from junior captain Tony Hicks propelled the Quakers to a 71-69 victory. Here are some interesting facts from the big win for the Red and Blue.
Ugonna Onyekwe had one of the most illustrious careers in Penn basketball history and was a leading star on the last Red and Blue squad to capture the Big 5 title.
Now, the former two-time Ivy League Player of the Year is about to add another accomplishment to his already decorated trophy case.
Twelve years after taking the court for the last time with the Quakers, the Big 5 announced on Monday that the two-time first-team All-Big 5 selection will be inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame in April.
Few players were more effective under former coach Fran Dunphy than Onyekwe. As a freshman, the six-foot-eight forward averaged 11.7 points per game and six rebounds per game en route to being named Ivy League Rookie of the Year. After Penn won the Ivy title, Onyekwe was named second-team All-Ivy and scored 17 points against Illinois in the NCAA Tournament.
Though the Quakers missed the NCAA Tournament in 2001, Onyekwe continued to thrive as he was named second-team All-Ivy for the second consecutive year.
The following season marked the first of back-to-back Ivy Player of the Year awards — and consecutive Ivy titles — for Onyekwe. He shot 55 percent in putting up 17.5 points per game to go along with six boards per contest in 2001-02, stats that earned him unanimous first-team All-Big 5 honors.
Up until the 2002-03 season, only one player had ever clinched consecutive Ivy Player of the Year honors. However, after posting 16.5 points per game and another 6.4 boards per contest, Onyekwe accomplished that feat, leading the Quakers to another Ivy championship.
Following his time at Penn, Onyekwe played eight seasons overseas in Israel and Spain.
Onyekwe finished his career with the Red and Blue in second place on the Quakers’ all-time scoring list. He also played in more games than any other player in Penn history at the time of his graduation.
Along with Onyekwe, former Temple guard Pepe Sanchez, Philadelphia Daily News columnist Stan Hochman and broadcaster Bill Raftery all comprise the Big 5 Hall of Fame Class of 2015. The quartet will be formally inducted on April 13 in a ceremony to be held at the Palestra.
It was a strong week on the court for Penn women’s basketball, which picked up a pair of impressive road victories over Dartmouth and Harvard. And news for the program off the court was arguably just as strong.
Senior guard Kathleen Roche and freshman guard Anna Ross both received accolades for their weekend efforts, being named Co-Ivy League Player of the Week and Big 5 Player of the Week, respectively.
Roche has been a consummate veteran for the Red and Blue all season, stepping up to the challenge of being one of the team’s top leaders and playmakers. This past weekend was no different, as the captain notched a total of 27 points and 11 rebounds in the two road victories. The scoring burst pushed Roche’s scoring average to 9.2 points per game, good for second on the team.
Though Roche paradoxically did not also win the Big 5 honor, Ross was certainly a deserving recipient. The freshman scored 19 of her 26 weekend points in Saturday’s win in Cambridge, including a perfect six-for-six performance from the free throw line in the final two minutes. Ross has filled the point guard slot admirably through the first half of the season, dishing out a team-high 58 assists.
Roche and Ross will look to defend their honors as the Quakers return home to the Palestra this weekend. Cornell will come to town on Friday night before Columbia makes the trip down I-95 on Saturday evening.
Welcome back to the Palestra for the third game of Ivy play for Penn basketball. The Quakers (6-10, 1-1 Ivy) are coming off a 58-51 win over Dartmouth while their opponent, Harvard, is coming off a win over Princeton to become 2-1 in Ivy play. Without further ado, let the liveblog begin.
Penn basketball carried momentum from its victory against Saint Joseph's into Ivy play, holding off a late Dartmouth charge to win, 58-51. Here's the good, the bad, and the ugly from the game.
The Good: Matt Howard and Greg Louis stepping up
I already highlighted Antonio Woods' performance in my column [Shameless self-promotion] so it's time to give props to the other two big performances from Friday night. While juniors Tony Hicks and Darien Nelson-Henry dealt with foul trouble, Howard and Louis stepped up on both ends of the court to lead the way. Howard had 18 points and three three-pointers while fighting through sickness (more on that later) while Louis was an efficient 4-for-5 from the field, scoring 10 points while grabbing eight rebounds.
The Bad: What else? Turnovers
If there are any running trends with Penn basketball, it's gotta be the turnovers. After 19 turnovers in their impressive win over Saint Joe's, the Quakers added 16 turnovers, including 12 before halftime. While they successfully limited the Big Green to just five points off turnovers (actually fewer than Penn scored), that likely won't fly against a superior Harvard defense on Saturday.
The Ugly: A Michael Jordan-style flu game
No, I'm not comparing Howard to arguably the greatest player of all-time, but the sophomore guard wasn't just fighting Dartmouth defenders tonight: He was fighting a stomach bug (the flu was a misnomer). How bad was it? I'll let Jerome Allen fill in the details.
"He was sick. Threw up at halftime, stuff all over the toilet," Allen said of Howard's halftime struggles. "To his credit, he weathered the storm and gave us what we needed."
That's right: Matt Howard threw up at halftime and then added 11 more points. The Ivy League should probably scared for when he gets healthy, especially since Howard said the win "helped a lot."
1. What should expectations be going into the opening weekend of Ivy League play for Penn men's basketball?
Sports Editor Holden McGinnis: It's hard to figure out what to expect from Penn basketball. One night they're keeping things close late in the game with Villanova, and the next they're losing to Monmouth. The win against St. Joseph's was encouraging, but Harvard and Dartmouth are both intimidating foes for the Quakers.
Sports Editor Laine Higgins: If history is the best indicator of what’s to come for Penn basketball this weekend, I expect Penn to split the weekend with a victory over Dartmouth and a loss to Harvard. The Quakers are 8-2 in their past 10 games against the Big Green, but only 2-8 over the same stretch against the Crimson. Those records speak for themselves.
Senior Staff Writer Steven Tydings: I second Holden’s idea that you never know what to expect from this Penn men’s hoops squad but expectations need to be high right now. Add a win over rival St. Joseph’s to matchups with beatable Dartmouth and Harvard squads and Penn has a chance to sweep at home. If Penn is going to take down the Crimson this season, now’s the time.
2. With Penn women's basketball finished with its nonconference slate, which player has surprised you the most with their performance?
HM: Senior co-captain Kathleen Roche has stepped up as the team's primary outside scorer and raised her scoring average by 3.0 points per game in her final campaign. Roche — an on-and-off court leader for the Quakers — has embraced the scoring void on the wing and her shooting will be key to the team's Ivy success.
LH: I’ve been most surprised with senior forward Kara Bonenberger thus far this season. The starter has recorded the second most minutes on the court this season and has been good for 8.3 points per game, third highest for the Quakers. She has progressed leaps and bounds from when she first stepped on the court for Penn four years ago and is a definitive physical presence in the paint.
ST: While Roche has been pretty darn impressive, I’d have to pick senior co-captain Renee Busch. Busch didn’t start a single game during her sophomore or junior season, but she still brought the most intensity in practice of almost any player. Her work ethic has led to her taking over a spot in the starting lineup while adding some clutch heroics in Penn’s Big 5 win over Temple earlier this month.
3. With three Ivy League matches on the horizon, what would wins this weekend mean for the momentum of both Penn squash teams?
HM: The implications of these matches are very different for the two programs. The women’s team lost a bit of momentum with a loss to Trinity, and wins over top-five Yale and Princeton would help them reassert themselves as one of the very top teams in the nation. For the men's team, upset wins over Ivy foes would certainly help them pick up the pace.
LH: Yale, Princeton and Brown will keep Penn women’s squash on their toes, no doubt, and wins over both teams would allow Penn to enter CSA championships in dominant fashion next month. On the men’s side, all three opponents provide formidable challenges. In order to pull off wins, the Quakers must look to standout freshmen Derek Hsue and Marwan Mahmoud.
ST: Momentum is key in everything you do and this weekend is especially crucial as both Penn squash teams head down the stretch in their respective seasons. The women’s team is trying to hang on to its spot near the top of the CSA rankings, while the men’s squads needs some wins in the next five days to crack the top-eight of those very same rankings. It's an exciting time for both programs, to say the least.
Over the weekend, seniors Matt McMahon and Joe McCallion of Penn lacrosse were drafted by Major League Lacrosse.
McMahon — a defenseman — was drafted 35th overall in the fifth round by the Ohio Machine, while McCallion — a midfielder — was drafted 52nd overall in the seventh round by the Denver Outlaws.
Both players have enjoyed outstanding careers thus far with the Red and Blue.
McMahon has been a defensive stalwart for the Quakers, starting every game over the past two years and getting named honorable mention Preseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse for the upcoming year. Meanwhile, McCallion has contributed greatly as a versatile midfielder, stuffing the stat sheet in various categories.
McMahon and McCallion will follow their former teammate Zack Losco — who was drafted last year — into the MLL.
Being that the Red and Blue have yet to start this season’s competitive play, both players retain eligibility for their senior campaigns and will finish off their collegiate careers before officially going pro.
Yale
Record: 13-6 (2-0 Ivy) (t-1st)
What they’ve done: The Bulldogs are owners of the Ancient Eight’s most impressive nonconference victory to date, as they took down defending national champion UConn on Dec. 7. The Elis have dipped into league play in their last two games, both victories over last-place Brown.
What’s Next: Though it’s strange to see a squad besides Harvard at the top of the Ivy standings, the Bulldogs have looked very strong through the first half of their season. Look for leadership from senior guard Javier Duren and junior forward Justin Sears as Yale enters the thick of its conference schedule.
Princeton
Record: 8-9 (1-0 Ivy) (2nd)
What they’ve done: Despite the lofty place in the standings, the Tigers have looked decidedly average in the early going. The squad has failed to register any impressive nonconference victories and was gifted its only league victory thus far at home when Penn struggled mightily down the stretch.
What’s Next: Despite the lackluster start to the season, Princeton still boasts a perfect Ivy record. Look for junior forward Hans Brase (12.2 points, 7.4 rebounds per game) to be the team’s leader as the Tigers head into a critical matchup with Harvard at home on Friday.
Harvard
Record: 11-5 (1-1 Ivy) (t-3rd)
What they’ve done: The class of the Ancient Eight in recent years, Harvard has looked uncharacteristically beatable over the first half of the season. After entering the season nationally ranked at no. 25, the Crimson have suffered ugly defeats to Holy Cross, Virginia and Dartmouth.
What’s Next: Although the Crimson have looked unworthy on their preseason national attention in the early going, the firepower of guards Wesley Saunders and Siyani Chambers should allow Harvard fans to rest easier down the stretch. Tommy Amaker’s squad is still the favorites to win their fifth consecutive Ivy title.
Columbia
Record: 9-7 (1-1 Ivy) (t-3rd)
What they’ve done: Despite the preseason loss of 2013-14 leading scorer Alex Rosenberg, the Lions have been able to tread water thus far this year, even coming close to a massive upset of No. 1 Kentucky on Dec. 10. The Lions have split their conference games, both versus Cornell.
What’s Next: Junior guard Maodo Lo will look to build on his team-leading 15.8 PPG as the Lions face a major test against Ivy leader Yale this Friday.
Cornell
Record: 9-9 (1-1 Ivy) (t-3rd)
What they’ve done: The team from Ithaca has had mixed results in the first half of the season, dropping a disappointing home game to St. Peter’s on Dec. 28 before notching a solid road victory over Columbia on Jan. 24.
What’s Next: After last season’s 2-26 debacle, Cornell will likely be pleased with this season’s return to respectability thanks to the return of senior forward Shonn Miller, who missed last season with a shoulder injury. Look for the Big Red to hang around the middle of the Ivy standings as the season progresses.
Dartmouth
Record: 8-8 (1-1 Ivy) (t-3rd)
What they’ve done: In the midst of an otherwise middling season, the Big Green pulled off the Ivy League’s most impressive in-conference victory to date, taking down Harvard on the road last Saturday.
What’s Next: That victory in Cambridge proved that Dartmouth can hang with anyone in the Ancient Eight. Look for junior guard Alex Mitola and his team-high 14.3 PPG to continue to catalyze the Big Green offense.
Brown
Record: 9-10 (0-2 Ivy) (8th)
What they’ve done: Despite a relatively weak nonconference schedule, the Bears have collected some impressive wins, including a 77-67 win at Providence on Dec. 8.
What’s Next: Two early losses to first-place Yale have put Brown in an early conference hole, but sophomore forward Leland King’s 14.6 PPG should help the Bears claw back to the middle of the Ivy pack. Although the sophomore missed the team’s second matchup against Yale, the Bears still fought to a four-point loss.
Join us as we cover Penn basketball in its final Big 5 matchup tonight against St. Joes
Harvard men's basketball was upset at home by Dartmouth on Saturday, 70-61, falling to 1-1 in Ivy play this season.
The Crimson were the overwhelming favorites to win the conference going into the year but had struggled on offense for much of the nonconference season, highlighted by a blowout defeat at now-No. 2 Virginia. However, Harvard had easily handled Dartmouth a week earlier in Hanover and took a 43-29 lead in the early second half against the Big Green on Saturday.
But the wheels came out as the Crimson committed 18 turnovers, including 11 by their starting backcourt, and had their 11-game winning streak vs. Dartmouth snapped. Big Green junior guard Alex Mitola scored 12 points, 10 on free throws, in the final 4:09 of the game, sealing the upset win and moving Dartmouth to 1-1 in the Ancient Eight.
Meanwhile, in New Haven, Yale narrowly avoided an upset of its own, beating Brown, 69-65, on a late jumper by guard Javier Duren (Video of the play below).
Javier Duren gives Yale 67-65 lead with 3.4 seconds left. https://t.co/RcLzhAlO4B
— Ray Curren (@currenrr) January 24, 2015For the moment, the Bulldogs take the Ivy League lead with a 2-0 record while Brown falls to 0-2.
Columbia had the chance to tie Yale atop the Ancient Eight but the Lions couldn't pull off a second straight win over Cornell, losing at home as both teams are now 1-1 in Ivy play.
Penn and Princeton play nonconference games this weekend against St. Joseph's and Division III Rowan, respectively, before resuming Ivy play next week against Harvard and Dartmouth.
After giving then-No. 5 Villanova a scare, can Penn basketball capitalize on its effort and earn a win against Monmouth? Join Sports Editor Emeritus Ian Wenik as he gives you all the action:
As Penn students made their way back to campus this week, some highly impressive hardcourt performances awaited them at the Palestra.
Women’s basketball’s Sydney Stipanovich was named Ivy League Player of the Week after an utterly dominant 19-point, 13-rebound performance in a 49-47 win over Richmond on Wednesday. The performance was the sophomore’s fifth double-double and second Player of the Week nod of the season.
Stipanovich sparked a comeback for the Quakers with four minutes to go with the team trailing the Spiders by four. The sophomore poured in six straight points and assisted on Anna Ross’ game-winning three-pointer.
The men’s squad was also a beneficiary of a similarly dominant individual performance. Guard Antonio Woods was named Ivy Rookie of the Week after a breakout performance in Saturday’s close defeat to No. 5 Villanova in which he paced the team with 18 points. The freshman also chipped in seven points and four rebounds in Tuesday’s road win over Niagara.
Adding to the Quakers accolades, junior guard Tony Hicks was named to the Ivy Weekly Honor Roll after racking up 18 points at Niagara and adding eight against Villanova.
It isn’t every year that Penn women’s basketball wins the Big 5 Title. In fact, it’s never happened before in the 36-year history of the Big 5.
That all changed over winter break as a Renee Busch three-pointer sealed a win over Temple for the Quakers with 25.1 seconds left.
With the 52-50 victory, the Quakers set six school records — including their first 3-0 start in Big 5 play, first four-game Big 5 winning streak, and their most Big 5 wins in a season.
As always, it started and ended with the stifling Penn defense that has been a defining characteristic in wins this season. The Quakers held the Owls (7-10, 1-3 Big 5) to 26.8 percent shooting from the field, making up for their 17 turnovers.
It was just the most recent achievement in the Mike McLaughlin era, but given his propensity to bring in top-tier talent year after year and continually build off of past years, it isn’t too surprising.
Last season saw the Quakers win two Big 5 games for just the second time in program history. For a program that’s struggled for so many years against the Big 5 — even Ivy League title teams had failed to secure multiple Big 5 wins — starting 3-0 is impressive.
Penn’s final Big 5 game comes later this month against a Villanova team that is currently on a six-game winning streak.
Apart from Penn and Villanova, most of the Big 5 has struggled uncharacteristically this season.
While La Salle has posted a 10-6 record, they’ve struggled against conference and Big 5 opponents. Saint Joseph’s has struggled in the early going, posting a 5-10 record, just one year removed from a 23-10 season that included an NCAA Tourney win and a Big 5 sweep.
While Penn might not be able to repeat on their Ivy League Championship — No. 22 Princeton might just be the best Ivy League women’s team in history — but earning their first ever Big 5 title is an incredible achievement for the team.
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