Penn women fall to fourth straight loss as Duke rolls, 77-55
The Quakers didn’t score until senior guard Mia Lakstigala hit a three-pointer more than five minutes into the game.
The Penn women’s basketball team suffered its fourth straight defeat in a 77-55 loss to undefeated Duke at the Palestra on Sunday.
The Quakers (4-5) didn’t score until senior guard Mia Lakstigala hit a three-pointer more than five minutes into the game. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils (8-0) went on an 8-0 run and finished the first quarter with a 22-5 lead.
Next up for Penn is a home game against St. Joseph’s on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Troubling shooting performance
Penn shot just 31.8% from the field, including 27.8% from behind the arc. At halftime, the Quakers had a season-worst 27.6% field-goal percentage, and the Blue Devils led, 40-25.
In its two previous losses, Penn shot just 27.9% from the field against La Salle on Nov. 30, and 30% against Bucknell on Dec. 3.
Lineup back to full strength
Sunday marked the first time this season all of Penn’s juniors and seniors were available to play. The upperclassmen were suspended four games due to an undisclosed violation of university policy. The suspensions staggered through Penn’s first eight nonconference games.
It also was the first game at the Palestra for junior guard and reigning Ivy League rookie of the year Kayla Padilla since Feb. 29, 2020. Padilla scored a team-high 16 points.
Lakstigala and senior forward Kennedy Suttle each scored 11 points, and Suttle had a team-high 12 rebounds.