Strong start powers Duke past Penn

DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 30: Duke's Haley Gorecki during the Duke Blue Devils game versus the Ohio State Buckeyes on November 30, 2017, at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC in a Division I women's college basketball game, and as part of the annual ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Duke won the game 69-60. (Photo by Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 30: Duke's Haley Gorecki during the Duke Blue Devils game versus the Ohio State Buckeyes on November 30, 2017, at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC in a Division I women's college basketball game, and as part of the annual ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Duke won the game 69-60. (Photo by Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Duke uses a strong first half to beat Pennsylvania in Durham

The Duke Blue Devils sprinted out to an 20-11 first quarter edge, and a 38-22 halftime advantage, to beat Pennsylvania on Friday afternoon. The win pushed Duke to 6-2 on the season, while the loss is the first one of this young season for the Quakers.

Duke was led by senior forward Leonna Odom, who finished with a game-high 23 points and 16 rebounds.  The Blue Devils has a distinct advantage on the glass, as they out-rebounded Penn 43-24 in the game. Haley Gorecki, Onome Akinbode-James, and Miela Goodchild, were all in double figures on the afternoon with 12, 10, and 11 points, respectively.

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The Quakers were led once again by their sensational freshman Kayla Padilla. Padilla, the two-time Ivy League Rookie of the Week, led Penn with 15 points and 4 assists. Padilla also played 39 of a possible 40 minutes in the game. Sophomore Kennedy Suttle had 11 points and 5 rebounds in the loss.

The Quakers really struggled on the offensive end, as they converted on just 32% of their field goal attempts, while shooting 6-24 (25%) from the 3-point line, and 6-10 (60%) from the free throw line.

Penn will look to get back to their winning ways on Monday as they will host Hartford. Duke will look to extend their four-game winning streak on Wednesday, as they head Lincoln, Nebraska to take on the Cornhuskers in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, before starting ACC play next Sunday against Boston College.

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