Sophomore Jordan Obi ‘progressing’ at right time for depleted Penn
With suspensions among juniors and seniors staggered early in the season, Obi is emerging as a force for the Quakers.
Sophomore forward Jordan Obi has been the only constant for Penn women’s basketball.
On Nov. 8, Penn athletics announced that the junior and senior players were suspended four games each due to an undisclosed violation of university policy. The suspensions are staggered through the first eight regular-season games for Penn (3-1).
With the upperclassmen rotating in and out of the lineup, the 6-foot-1 Obi is the only player to start in all of Penn’s games. She is averaging 16.8 points and seven rebounds per game.
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Obi scored 24 points and shot 9-for-14 from the field in Penn’s 66-63 loss to Villanova (2-2) on Monday night. She leads the Quakers in points (67), rebounds (28), free throws made (12), and blocks (six).
“[Obi] played the game the right way on both ends of the floor,” coach Mike McLaughlin said. “She competed at such a high level, she made huge shots ... big-time shots, 25 feet away, guarded. She’s progressing.”
The Quakers’ first loss of the season came in the absence of senior forward Kennedy Suttle and junior guard Kayla Padilla, Penn’s two returning starters from the 2019-20 season. With both serving their suspensions on the sideline, Obi and her fellow underclassmen have stepped up in their place. Freshman guard Lizzy Groetsch also had a standout performance against the Wildcats, setting career-highs in points (10) and steals (four).
“Obviously, it sucks. It is nice to get people that might not have played more minutes,” Obi said. “[Freshman guard Marianna Papazoglou] came in and played really well. And so it was good to just get some of the younger players some experience. [We’re] just trying to make the best of the situation.”
Her freshman season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She saw her first collegiate action in Penn’s opener against Hartford on Nov. 14 and scored 10 points in an 85-42 victory over the Hawks.
“I’ve been looking forward to it. So I’m just trying to take advantage, play every game as hard as I can,” said Obi, who played her high school ball at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut. “I’m just trying to make the most of these three years.”
Obi had 29 points and 12 rebounds in a win over King’s College on Nov. 16 for her first career double-double. Her performance also earned her Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors.
“I know this is only [Obi’s] fourth college game, but that girl has a great feel for the game. She’s got great instincts,” McLaughlin said. “That girl’s got a lot of talent. You can see her get rid of the ball at all different spots on the floor.”
With four shorthanded games remaining, the Quakers travel to Los Angeles this weekend for the Loyola Marymount Thanksgiving Classic. Penn takes on UC San Diego on Friday and Memphis on Saturday.