As Penn women’s basketball continues to seek its first win of the season, the team also looks for its second and third scoring options that will help produce that win.
In their previous game at Army, the Quakers (0-3) had a player other than Alyssa Baron lead them in scoring for the first time in nine games dating back to last year. Penn, however, now looks for consistency in its secondary scoring options as the Red and Blue head into Friday’s matchup against La Salle (1-5).
Freshman Keiera Ray, who scored a team-high 21 points against Army, figures to be one of Penn’s go-to players offensively this season in place of Baron, who leads the Ivy League in scoring.
“Having another offensive player makes opposing teams play one-on-one, good defense with each person,” sophomore forward Kara Bonenberger said of Ray’s presence. “If you have a player inside and at the wing or the point who can shoot, [the opponent] has to be aware of everyone and can’t double-team anyone.”
Bonenberger also provides another scoring option and a strong presence at forward to complement Ray at guard. While Bonenberger is looking for opportunities to score herself, she also hopes to find ways that give Baron and Ray better opportunities to produce.
“I try to post up for myself,” Bonenberger said. “But for them, I try to screen, hand off or anything to help get them open … Screening is really the main thing for us to get better opportunities to score.”
With the development of Ray at guard and the increasing post presence of Bonenberger, the Quakers are poised to take a step forward in consistent scoring.
But it will be even harder for the Quakers to find their secondary scoring since they will be playing shorthanded without starting point guard Meghan McCullough.
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“Keiera is going to be asked to do a few different things now,” coach Mike McLaughlin said. “We’re certainly going to have some growing pains but the coaches and I are trying to put in a few new sets right now that will allow us to play without a true point guard.
Friday’s game against La Salle marks the Quakers’ first Big 5 matchup for the year. To emphasize the importance of the game, McLaughlin told the upperclassmen to take the freshmen around the Palestra to show them the history of the Big 5.
While Penn defeated La Salle on its last visit, McLaughlin senses the Explorers will be a tough team to beat despite a 1-5 record to begin the season.
“They’ve played a very difficult schedule to start, so their record is probably a little deceiving, having played [North] Carolina just recently,” McLaughlin said. “They are a team that is very athletic and big so they are going to pose a couple of challenges.”
Among those challenges will be senior Brittany Wilson, who leads La Salle in scoring with 20.8 points per game.
“Wilson is someone we are going to have to keep out of transition,” McLaughlin said. “She is too talented not to score, and we just have to cut her out of her run-outs, her layups and her second shot opportunities.”
Last season, the Explorers handed Penn its first loss of the year. The Quakers will only turn the tables this season if they find another weapon for their offensive arsenal.
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