Penn Women's Basketball Outpaced by Hampton, 58-43

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania  --  An impressive nine-game home winning streak -- the second-longest in school history -- came to an end on Friday night when four-time defending MEAC champion Hampton used an early second-half run to surge past the University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team, 58-43, at The Palestra.

How it Happened
It was a game of runs. A series of small ones in the first half, and then a game-changing stretch to start the second half.

Penn (3-3) got out to an early lead with seven of the game's first nine points behind buckets from Sydney Stipanovich and Anna Ross, and a three from senior captain Kathleen Roche. But Hampton answered with eight of the next 10 and held a 10-9 lead after the first seven minutes.

The Pirates, who have not lost a conference game in three years, led 13-12 at the 12:21 mark. But freshman forward Michelle Nwokedi started a 9-0 run with a three and sophomore Melanie Lockett added the last four points for a 21-13 lead with 8:49 left in the half.

Penn maintained a 23-15 edge before the Pirates scored six of the next seven to get within a possession. However, freshman Anna Ross tacked on four straight points to halt Hampton's momentum and send the Quakers into the break with a 31-26 lead.

The largest run of the day came at the start of the second half and was ultimately the deciding factor. The Quakers missed their first 10 shots of the half and Hampton (1-5) capitalized with an 18-2 run over the first eight minutes.

Sophomore Sydney Stipanovich stopped the Penn drought with a drive and lay-in to get within 44-35, but the Quakers were never closer than that the rest of the way.

Hampton held its largest lead, 58-39, with just over four minutes to play.

Inside the Numbers
Rebounding was the difference as the Pirates pulled in 30 offensive boards and totaled 58 for the game compared to Penn's 35.

The Quakers scored just 12 points in the second half -- the fewest in head coach Mike McLaughlin's tenure. Penn was just 3-of-22 (13.6%) from the field over the final 20 minutes, including 1-of-10 (10%) from three. Overall, the Red and Blue were 13-of-47 (27.7%) from the floor and 5-of-19 (26.3%) from three. Hampton was 25-for-78 (32.1%) on the night and 4-of-18 (22.2%) from beyond the arc.

One game after moving into third-place on Penn's all-time career blocks list, Stipanovich had six rejections -- five in the second half. Lockett had a team-high seven points and contributed four rebounds. Ross led the Quakers with five assists, and added six points, while Nwokedi scored six, pulled in a team-best seven rebounds and had two blocks in 14 minutes off the bench.

Up Next
A Big 5 matchup awaits as the Quakers host Saint Joseph's at The Palestra on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader with the men, who are set to tip off at 8 p.m. against Marist. Tickets for the doubleheader start at $14.

 Box Score

 

Courtesy: Eric Dolan, associate director of athletic communications

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF PENNESYLVANIA ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS