Penn Holds Off Albany to Take Round 1 in the WNIT

Guru’s note: Postgame Scout was at The Palestra to handle Peenn in the WNIT while your Guru is here in the Midwest with Villanova women in the NCAAs.

By Postgame Scout

PHILADELPHIA - It was raining 3’s in the Palestra as the Penn Quakers welcomed WNIT opponent the University of Albany to Phillie.

 

Senior Lauren Whitlatch hit the first three shots of the game, all of them from beyond the arc, to give Penn a quick 9-1 lead. 

Michelle Nwokedi, Ashley Russell and Katie Kinum also contributed to Quakers’ long range barrage, putting Penn up 18-3 with 4:54 left in the first quarter.

 

After a timeout, Albany’s defense intensified its pressure by extending the court and pressuring Penn on the perimeter.  This slowed down the Quakers’  momentum and allowed the Danes to claw their way back into the game.  

 

With time running out in the first quarter, Albany’s Jessica Fequierre hit a ”Hail Mary,” shot from the corner to cut the Quaker lead to 7.  The momentum had shifted toward the Danes.

 

Penn went scoreless in second quarter until the 5:19 mark when Nwokedi converted inside on an assist from Anna Ross giving the Quakers a slim 29-28 lead.

 

Albany successfully screened the middle of Penn’s 2-3 zone, giving Albany good close range looks at the basket.  

 Penn was forced out of their zone and into man to mandefense.

 

It was a foul ridden third quarter with Nwokedi picking up foul number 2, 3 and 4 before leaving the court with 2:55 left in the period.  She is quickly followed by Kinum getting her fourth foul at the 2:06 mark and Whitlatch getting her fourth foul at the 1:20 mark.

 

Penn’s Tori Crawford came off the bench and provided the Quakers a much needed  lift.

 

Albany continued to battle with Chynna Canada scoring inside and Jessica Fequiere scoring from the perimeter.

 

Despite foul trouble, Penn pulled away from Albany in the 4th quarter.  

Ross sealed Penn’s victory by scoring five consecutive points and unanswered late in the fourth quarter.

 

Albany was aggressive and relentless.  They clawed their way back into the game. 

 However, Penn would not be denied. 

 Their composure down the stretch and bench productivity sends the Quakers onto the next round of the WNIT in New York Monday night against St. John’s.