PHILADELPHIA — The Longwood women's basketball team opened with an early offensive surge and carried a five-point lead into the second quarter, but Penn used a pivotal second-quarter run to take control and pulled away in the second half for a 72-53 victory Thursday at The Palestra.
The Lancers (2-2) jumped out to a strong start behind Shakira Gresham, who opened the scoring with a pull-up jumper. Longwood built its advantage with contributions throughout the lineup, including a second-chance basket from McKenna Hoyt and a 3-pointer from stepback triple at the end of the shot clock by McKayla Hosley.
Kayla Washington added a pair of 3-pointers in the opening period, while Nal'La Bennett knocked down a 3-pointer with one minute remaining to give Longwood a 21-15 advantage. The Lancers led 21-16 after the first quarter.
Longwood extended its lead to eight points, 24-16, on another Washington 3-pointer with 8:39 remaining in the first half. Penn responded, however, beginning a 13-point scoring run that turned a two-point deficit into a 29-24 advantage with 3:19 left in the half.
"Penn is a welI-coached, experienced and veteran basketball team and it showed in the last three quarters of the game,"Longwood head coach Erika Labf-Montgomery said. "I thought we started the game aggressively, playing our style of basketball. Once they took the lead, we were unable to recover. We have to do a better job of playing through adversity and handling the opponent's runs and that will improve as we gain more experience each game."
The Quakers' run was fueled by perimeter shooting and inside production from Tina Njike, who scored twice during the stretch. Longwood worked to stay within striking distance, with London Harvey converting a second-chance basket before Bennett connected from beyond the arc with 23 seconds remaining. Penn held a 32-29 lead at the break.
Penn (4-0) continued to build its advantage in the third quarter, although Longwood briefly made a push. Bennett buried a 3-pointer with 8:17 remaining to tie the game at 32-32, capping a stretch that erased Penn's three-point halftime lead.
The Quakers answered with a decisive response. Njike scored inside to put Penn ahead 34-32, and Rachel Thatcher followed with a driving layup. Njike added another basket to push the margin to 40-34 with 5:42 remaining.
Longwood trimmed the deficit to five on a pair of Harvey free throws, but Penn closed the quarter with a 10-5 run, including a fastbreak layup from Katie Collins and a second-chance 3-pointer from Washington. Penn took a 50-40 lead into the fourth.
Thatcher opened the final period with a 3-pointer and Penn maintained control despite baskets from Gresham and Hoyt.
Gresham converted two free throws before Hoyt finished a second-chance layup to bring Longwood within 56-46 with 6:47 remaining.
The Quakers quickly put the game out of reach. Mataya Gayle scored consecutive baskets, including a layup off a Longwood turnover, before Brooke Suttle connected from 3-point range to extend Penn's lead to 63-46. Njike added another second-chance bucket and Gayle's jumper made it 67-47 with just over three minutes remaining.
Gresham provided a late spark with two 3-pointers in the closing minutes, but Penn maintained a comfortable advantage to secure the victory.
Washington led Longwood with q career-high 14 points, including four 3-pointers. Gresham added 12 points, six rebounds and five steals, while Bennett finished with 11 points.
Hoyt contributed five points and three rebounds.
Penn shot 54.7 percent from the field and scored 38 points in the paint. Longwood finished with 19 offensive rebounds and converted 10 3-pointers but shot 32.2 percent overall.
Longwood returns home to host Emory & Henry Monday at the Joan Perry Brock Center. Tip is set for 7 p.m., on ESPN+.
