The University of Pennsylvania women’s basketball team secured a decisive win against Yale in New Haven, finishing the game 64-37. With this victory, Penn moved to a 12-6 overall record and is now 2-3 in Ivy League play, while Yale dropped to 5-13 overall and 1-4 in the league.
Simone Sawyer led all scorers with 18 points. Mataya Gayle contributed 12 points and Katie Collins added 10, marking Collins’ ninth consecutive game scoring in double figures. Penn shot 42 percent from the field and held Yale to just 24 percent shooting. The Quakers also had a slight edge on the boards, outrebounding Yale 40-37.
Penn led for a total of 35 minutes during the contest and forced Yale into committing 26 turnovers. Six Quakers recorded at least two steals each, with Saniah Caldwell leading the team with four. Head Coach Mike McLaughlin earned his 269th win for Penn on his birthday. The margin of victory was Penn’s largest against a Division I opponent so far this season.
The game’s opening saw both teams start slowly, each making only one of their first five shots. On the first possession, Penn forced a turnover which led to Katie Collins scoring the initial basket with a putback layup. In the opening period alone, Penn forced eleven turnovers that resulted in ten points.
Saniah Caldwell made an early three-pointer as Penn took a lead they would not relinquish. Simone Sawyer, Mataya Gayle, and Brooke Suttle set an aggressive defensive tone by recording two steals each in the first quarter. Despite some missed opportunities early on, Penn finished the first quarter shooting at fifty percent and led by five points.
In the second quarter, after Dorka Kastl scored for Yale, Ashna Tambe answered for Penn with an and-one jumpshot. Sawyer continued her strong performance by stripping the ball for an and-one layup on another possession. A jumper by Gayle extended Penn’s lead to nine late in the half as they capitalized on Yale’s ball control issues; fifteen Bulldog turnovers in the first half resulted in sixteen points for Penn.
A three-pointer from Gayle helped give Penn a seven-point halftime advantage (28-21), with Sawyer leading all scorers at intermission with nine points.
In the second half, Sawyer assisted Tina Njike inside to open scoring for Penn before Caldwell hit another three-pointer. Collins scored eight of her ten points during this stretch—her ninth straight game reaching double digits—and helped extend Penn’s lead to twenty by outscoring Yale nineteen to six in the third quarter.
The Quaker offense continued its momentum into the fourth period as Gayle connected from beyond the arc again; Sawyer added seven more points as Penn maintained control through to victory.
Next up for Penn is an Ivy League homestand against Cornell on Friday followed by Columbia on Saturday.
“Simone Sawyer led all scorers with 18 points.”
“Mataya Gayle (12) and Katie Collins (10) also scored in double figures for the Quakers.”
“This was Collins’ ninth straight game in double figures.”
“Penn shot 42 percent from the field, held Yale to just 24 percent shooting.”
“Penn outrebounded Yale 40-37.”
“The Quakers led for 35 total minutes.”
“Penn forced 26 Yale turnovers.”
“Six Quakers recorded at least two steals, Saniah Caldwell led the team with four.”
“Head Coach Mike McLaughlin won his 269th game for Penn, on his birthday.”
“The 27 point victory was Penn’s largest over a Division 1 opponent this season.”
