The Guru Report: Almqvist Leads Penn to Big Five Win Over La Salle; Princeton Wins a Two-Overtime Thriller; Notre Dame Rallies at Tennessee in ACC/SEC Challenge

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

 

PHILADELPHIA — Kayla Padilla, Penn’s former superstar, may have moved on to one of the hottest programs in the nation at the moment, playing her graduate season at No. 6 Southern Cal with the nation’s top recruit in JuJu Watkins.

 

But that doesn’t mean her former school has become yesterday’s news, watching the Quakers play whenever possible.

 

She had the time Wednesday night to watch junior Stina Almqvist light up La Salle with 24 points, her fourth 20-point game of the season, leading Penn to a 79-71 Big Five win at The Palestra.

 

“She’s on fire,” Padilla commented in a text when asked if aware of the game and Almqvist.

 

Holes may be in Swiss cheese, but so far everything about the Swiss export to the Quakers has been solid.

 

“I had some great players come before me, so I think for me it was just patience and wait for my turn,” she said. “Where there’s an opportunity, just step up, and I think my coaches and teammates helped me get to the point I am now.”

 

Of course, with Padilla gone, roles needed to be changed and so she now occupies a combo role playing the “4” and “5” spots.

 

“I’d be lying if I thought she was going to take this big of a step, but she looked more confident, older on the floor,” said Penn coach Mike McLaughlin. “I thought she’d take a leap in terms of kids had graduated, we needed kids who didn’t play as much. She’s taken a massive step.”

 

Most of Almqvist’s work on the night was in the first half, scoring 18 points before La Salle (3-3, 0-1 Big Five) cooled her down a bit. But then Jordan Obi picked up the slack with 16 of her 18 points in the second half.

 

 Scoring punch also came from freshman Mataya Gayle with 18 points for the Quakers (5-2, 1-1), while Lizzy Groetsch scored 17 points, shooting 8-for-12 from the field.

 

“This was a classic case of you know what’s coming, and can you stop it?” La Salle coach Mountain MacGillivray said of defending Almqvist. “She was going to try to go for it with her right and if she couldn’t she was going to put it on the floor with her left and go back to her right, every time.

 

“We knew it was coming, we were even in position, and she made plays.”

 

So now it’s down to just two teams that have a chance to win the Big Five crown with a 4-0 slate and Saint Joseph’s and Villanova will meet next Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Hagan Arena on Hawk Hill, ESPN+ airing the game.

 

In between, though, Villanova will host Penn Tuesday at 7 p.m. on FloHoops.If La Salle can beat Villanova and Temple, the Explorers could be going for a co-championship when they travel to Saint Joseph’s at

noon on Jan. 15 for what is also annually the first of a home-and-home series in the Atlantic 10 with the Hawks.

 

Back to Almqvist, who discussed her evolution from being the classic comparative case of an understudy in a Broadway play who reaches stardom.

 

“I’m just getting more comfortable around the rim and liking my position more as the ‘4’ or ‘5’” she said. “I think I’ve always loved to score the ball, even in Sweden, coming in.

 

“It’s always been there, just obviously in every team you have a different role. But losing Kayla is like losing 20 points per game, so we’ve got to step up some way.”

 

It’s going to take some doing to find a better interior duo in the Penn history than Sydney Stipanovich and Michelle Nwokedi, who temporarily broke up the Princeton monopoly in winning three Ivy titles in four seasons (2014-17).

 

But Obi and Almqvist look to be the next best duo.

 

More help was added with the return of Floor Toonders, who had a right foot injury in a preseason scrimmage, rolling her ankle.

 

The idea, McLaughlin said, is to get her ready for Ivy play when the 2004 portion of the calendar arrives in two months.

 

“Yeah, it’s great to have her back, she just practiced with us for the first time yesterday,” McLaughlin said.  “She’s obviously very restricted to what we can do now. She’s only gone live for about 10 minutes so far, and I didn’t think it was fair to extend her much further today.

 

“Over the next couple days, as we practice, I’ll be able to extend her (minutes.).” 

 

La Salle was hampered in this one with Emilee Tahata and Aryss Macktoon sidelined for unspecified medical reasons.

 

Makayla Miller made good in her first start with 23 points, shooting 10-of-18 from the field.

 

“She had a good night tonight,” MacGillivray said. “Really pleased with her scoring numbers, she still had four assists and one turnover.”

 

Molly Masciantonio had 11 points, while she also dealt six assists and two steals.

 

La Salle will host Virginia Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN+ while Penn will travel to No. 23 Marquette at 2 p.m. on FloHoops.

 

Princeton Edges Seton Hall in Overtime: The first battle of New Jersey in the three-team series among Rutgers, Princeton and Seton Hall turned out to be quite the contest with newly ranked No. 25 Princeton extended into two overtimes until the Tigers prevailed 75-71 at home in Jadwin Gym.

 

Reigning Ivy player of the year Kaitlyn Chen scored 21 for Princeton (5-2), while Skye Belker scored 18.

 

Micah Gray had a career-high 24 points and connected on seven shots from beyond the arc for the visiting Pirates (4-3) of the Big East.

 

One of Gray’s 3-pointers came at the buzzer in regulation to force the first overtime and a second with 1:20 left in the first overtime that tied the score, and it remained that way to extend the game one more five-minute extra period.

 

Azana Baines had 12 points and 11 rebounds for Seton Hall. Her two foul shots gave the Pirates their only lead in the second overtime with 53 seconds left. Then Belker put Princeton back in front with 37 seconds left and then she blocked a shot with 12 seconds left to secure the win.

 

The Tigers next head to Atlantic 10 favorite Rhode Island, Sunday, in Kingston at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.   

 

Penn State and Rutgers Cruise to Wins: After two straight games in which leads were given up, one that resulted in a one-point loss to then-No. 8 Southern Cal that likely cost Penn State from earning its first Associated Press ranking since 2014, the Lady Lions kept their foot on the gas Wednesday night at the way to a 97-47 win over Radford at home in the Bryce Jordan Center in State College.

 

Five players scored in double figures led by Makenna Marisa, who collected 24 points off of shooting 10-for-15 from the field, including 4-of-7 from deep.

 

Leilani Kapinus was equally hot from the field, shooting 6-of-9 attempts for 15 points and shared team-high totals in rebounding with Ali Brigham, grabbing eight. Shay Czieki also scored 15, while Tay Vallay and Moriah Murray each scored 11 points.

 

Penn State (7-1) got 37 points out of forcing the Highlanders (2-6) into 29 turnovers.

 

The Lady Lions will get another crack at gaining the poll when they travel to No. 16 Ohio State to open the Big Ten slate but first comes a visit to West Virginia in Morgantown, Monday, at 6 p.m. on ESPN+

 

Meanwhile Rutgers at home in Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, N.J., celebrated the Scarlet Knights’ annual Recess Day matinee with an 82-48 win over Delaware State (0-6).

 

Kaylene Smikle torched the nets for a personal best 33 points, shooting 13-for-20 from the field and 5-of-9 from deep, while Destiny Adams scored 19 points, and Chyna Cornwell scored 12 and grabbed 12 boards for her third double double of the season.

 

Smikle’s total was the first 30 plus performance in the program since Arella Guirantes scored 30 on BYU in the NCAA tournament three seasons ago, and first in the arena since Guirantes scored 36 in a Big Ten clash a season earlier on Ohio State. 

 

Unlike Penn State’s wire-to-wire run, the Scarlet Knights (4-5) had to rally from a 20-16 deficit at the end of the first quarter, which they did over the next two periods, 25-7 in the second, and 23-11 in the third.

 

Next up on Friday night, Lafayette visits at 7 p.m., followed by La Salle same time next Tuesday and then the first conference clash will be Saturday, Dec. 9, at 4 p.m. against No. 17 Indiana on the Big Ten Network.

 

Lafayette Wins Fourth Straight: Abby Antognoli  shot 6-for-12 from the field, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc to score 25 points, while Makayla Andrews scored 12 as the Leopards won their fourth straight by defeating host UMBC 59-53.

 

The visitors (4-3) had to rally from a 16-10 deficit in the first quarter, which they did effectively the next period 13-4 and then went on to ride Antognoli’s four foul shots near the end of regulation to secure the win over UMBC (1-6).

 

The win streak will get a challenge Friday night when the Leopards visit Rutgers.

 

Delaware Prevails at American: The Blue Hens downed the Eagles 68-58 at Bender Arena in the nation’s capital to win their second straight, riding a 23-12 surge in the third quarter.

 

Tara Cousins had 23 and nine rebounds for the winners, while Sydney Boone scored 11, and reserve Darrionna Howard and Klarke Sconiers each scored 10 to get Delaware (3-3) back to .500.

 

Emily Johns scored 15 points and Lauren Stack scored 14 for American (1-5).

 

On Sunday Delaware travels to Duquesne of the Atlantic 10 at 2 p.m. on ESPN+ in Pittsburgh.

 

The National Scene: Day two of the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge on Thursday became extra interesting before day one got under way when LSU coach Kim Mulkey announced at a press conference in Baton Rouge in advance of the defending NCAA champions and No. 7 Tigers rematch with their Final Four semifinals opponent No. 9 Virginia Tech that MVP Angel Reese would play after missing four games.

 

“Angel’s back, Kateri’s (Poole) not, and and Sa’Myah’s (Smith) done for the year, referencing on the latter a torn ACL, MCL and medial meniscus in the opening quarter of a 99-65 win over MAAC favorite Niagara in the Cayman Islands Classic.

 

The other two players did not make the trip that included LSU edging Virginia 76-73.

 

“It’s a boost having her back,” Mulkey said of Reese. “She’s a tremendous player, one of the best in the country. She gives us a good matchup with (Elizabeth) Kitley, but it’s not just for this game — it’s for the rest of the season.”

 

The ACC jumped to a 4-1 start highlighted by No. 18 Notre Dame’s rally from a 16-point deficit to beat No. 20 Tennessee 74-69 in Knoxville.

 

Tennessee (4-3), now in danger of falling out of the poll again after a third Top 25 loss, led 45-29 with 7:03 remaining in the third period.

 

The No. 18 Irish (6-1) then went on a 15-3 run to move within a basket but Jasmine Powell’s three-point play with 1.7 left in the third got the Lady Vols back to five in front.

 

Notre Dame went ahead for the first time since early in the game on Anna DeWolfe’s score with 4:25 in regulation and KK Bransford’s shot with 47.7 seconds left sealed the outcome.

 

Maddy Westbeld had a double double 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Irish, while Natalija Marshall had 15 points and nine rebounds.

 

Hannah Hidalgo, a freshman from Haddonfield, N.J., had 13 for the Irish, while dealing five of her seven assists in the third quarter, and DeWolfe scored 11.

 

Powell had 14 points, Destinee Wells scored 13, Wake Forest transfer Jewel Spear scored 11, and Karoline Striplin had 10 for Tennessee, but Rickea Jackson was still not back in uniform.

 

Notre Dame next hosts Lafayette Wednesday while Tennessee plays Ohio State Sunday.

 

Tennessee had held the all-time record of 565 consecutive appearances under the late Pat Summitt, stepping down in a battle with Alzheimer’s disease, and Holly Warlick.

 

The Vols have since spent stretches in and out of the poll, though were expected to be solid this season with former player Kellie Harper guiding the team.

 

Meanwhile, even while seeing a bunch of incredibles records end due to injuries, Connecticut continued to be ranked and ultimately tied the Tennessee streak record in the preseason vote and then passed it the first week after season play got under way.

 

In other challenge results, the lone SEC win came with Florida prevailing at Georgia Tech 68-58.

 

NC State (8-0) handed visiting Vanderbilt (7-1) it’s first loss, winning 70-62 at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C., as Saniya Rivers scored 22 for the Wolfpack.

 

No. 22 Louisville won at No. 19 Ole Miss 64-58 in Oxford as Kiki Jefferson scored 16 for the Cardinals (7-1) and Nina Rickards scored 15 against the Rebels (6-2), led by Snudda Collins with 22 points.

 

Miami on the road upset host No. 21 Mississippi State 74-68 as reserve Lemyah Hylton scored 16 for the visiting Hurricanes (6-0) and Jasmyah Roberts scored 15.

 

Mississippi State (8-1), suffering its first loss, were without injured starters Jessika Carter and Erynn Barnum while Seton Hall transfer Lauren Park-Lane scored 20 and grabbed 10 rebounds.

 

Looking Ahead: Just one game on the locally slate, Villanova will host Richmond of the Atlantic 10 at 7 p.m. at Finneran Pavilion, the game airing on FloHoops.

 

The ACC/SEC Challenge continues on Thursday, the most anticipated is the No. 7 LSU-No. 9 Virginia Tech game at 9 p.m. on ESPN. That follows the match from Chapel Hill, N.C., when No. 18 hosts No. 1 South Carolina at 7 p.m. and at halftime the new Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame class will be announced.

 

At 5 p.m. Duke visits Georgia on the SECN while at the same time on the ACC network Missouri visits Virginia.

 

No. 15 Florida State hosts Arkansas at 7 p.m. on ESPN2; Kentucky hosts Boston College at 7 p.m. on SECN; Syracuse hosts Alabama at 7 p.m. on the ACCN, while the day wraps with Auburn hosting Clemson at 9 p.m., on SECN while at the same time on ACCN Wake Forest hosts Texas A&M.

 

Elsewhere No. 17 Indiana visits Maine at 7 p.m. on ESPN+ and Michigan State visits DePaul at 7 p.m. on FloHoops.