The Guru Report: Penn Loses Close to Stony Brook

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

Only one local team was on the Friday night card and slim pickings became no pickings for the Penn Quakers who went visiting to Long Island and fell 75-69 to one of the new mid-majors on the block - defending America East champion Stony Brook.

Once again on the Quakers side junior Kayla Padilla was the show, scoring 29 points in this one propelled by five from deep.

She also dished six assists while Jordan Obi had 18 points and eight rebounds and Mia Lakstigala had 12 points and seven rebounds.

But by the time the action ceased at Island Federal Credit Union Arena Penn (4-7) was stuck with its sixth straight setback and the Seawolves (8-1) continued on the move.

India Pagan had 20 points and eight rebounds for Stony Brook, while Gigi Gonzalez had 14 points and 10 each were collected by Earlette Scott and Leighah-Amori Wool.

Nairimar Vargas grabbed 14 rebounds.

True the inordinate situation involving the juniors and seniors being suspended four games each until Sunday’s game with No. 19 Duke at home in The Palestra has been impactful but now it’s holiday break until traveling to Morgan State on Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. in Baltimore. 

And then it’s all or nothing st all when the Ivy race to the four-team playoffs at Harvard get under way.

Looking Ahead: A key attraction occurs at noon Saturday when Temple and Saint Joseph’s meet at the Owls’ McGonigle Hall on North Broad Street on ESPN+ in a Big Five clash with Temple 1-0 in the City Series round robin and the Hawks 1-1.

On Saturday at 2 p.m. Drexel hosts Longwood University while Princeton hosts Seton Hall at noon in Jadwin Gym and La Salle travels to St. John’s at 1 p.m. in Queens.

The national slate features UCLA at No. 3 UConn at 1 p.m. at the Prudential Center at 1 p.m. in Newark, N.J.

Coming out of Thursday’s upset loss in Atlanta to Georgia Tech that’s the first of it’s kind in 240 games to an unranked foe. It’s been ages since the Huskies lost two straight, that could result in dropping out of the top 10.  The game will air on the ABC-TV.

On Sunday No. 23 Oregon State visits Villanova at 1 p.m.