ITHACA, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a gritty Ivy League rematch that required an extra period to decide, the Penn women’s basketball team avenged a narrow loss from two weeks prior by outlasting Cornell 72-66 in overtime on Friday night at Newman Arena.

The contest, played before an intimate crowd of 186, was a testament to resilience for the visiting Quakers, who squandered a late fourth-quarter lead but dominated the extra session to improve to 14-8 overall. Cornell, which had defeated Penn 62-58 in Philadelphia on Jan. 30, fell to 8-14 with the hard-fought defeat.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the final minute of regulation and carried decisively into overtime. With Penn clinging to a 62-60 lead, Cornell’ Rachel Kaus, who finished with a game-high 25 points, tied the score on a layup with 1:33 remaining. Both teams then endured a series of empty possessions and turnovers under intense defensive pressure. Penn’s Mataya Gayle missed a potential game-winning step-back jumper with 13 seconds left, and Cornell’s Kelsey Langston’s pull-up attempt at the buzzer fell short, forcing overtime tied at 62.

The Quakers, however, owned the extra frame from the opening tip. Tina Njike won the jump ball, setting a tone of urgency. After Kaus gave Cornell a brief 64-62 lead, Penn responded with a 10-2 run to seize control. The run was fueled by interior play and defensive stops. Njike and Brooke Suttle scored on consecutive possessions inside, and Gayle added a driving layup to push the lead to 68-64.

Penn’s defense then clamped down, holding the Big Red to just one field goal in the final three minutes of overtime. Cornell managed only four points in the period, shooting 2 of 8 from the floor, while Penn scored 10 points, half of which came at the free-throw line to seal the victory.

The game was a battle of contrasting strengths throughout. Penn’s advantage came from overwhelming work on the glass and points in the paint. The Quakers hauled in 18 offensive rebounds, leading to 18 second-chance points and a commanding 38-24 edge in paint scoring. Suttle was pivotal in this effort, contributing 11 points and multiple key offensive boards.

Cornell stayed competitive through perimeter shooting, connecting on 8 of 23 three-point attempts compared to Penn’s 5 of 24. Emily Pape and Clarke Jackson each hit critical threes for the Big Red, with Pape finishing with 13 points and Jackson adding 12 points and five assists.

Individual performances highlighted the tight nature of the contest. For Penn, guard Mataya Gayle of Woodstock, Georgia, led the way with 23 points, four assists and three steals in 40 minutes, orchestrating the offense despite eight turnovers. Forward Katie Collins of Manasquan, New Jersey, provided a crucial double-double with 16 points and relentless rebounding, while guard Saniah Caldwell of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, directed traffic with seven assists.

For Cornell, Kaus, a junior from Lake Bluff, Illinois, was a force, adding eight rebounds and a block to her 25-point effort. Jackson, from Columbus, Ohio, logged a game-high 44 minutes, and Langston of Wilmette, Illinois, dished out eight assists.

The game unfolded in distinct phases. Cornell led 15-12 after a back-and-forth first quarter and extended its lead to 31-27 by halftime. Penn surged in the third quarter, using a 12-4 run to take a 46-44 lead, and entered the fourth quarter ahead 52-50. The Quakers built a six-point cushion early in the final period, but Cornell’s persistent offense, led by Kaus, chipped away to set the stage for the dramatic finish.

Penn’s victory, which defied a national statistical projection that heavily favored the Quakers, snapped a two-game skid in the series. Both teams return to action quickly in Ivy League play, facing travel partners on Saturday. Penn visits Columbia, while Cornell hosts Princeton.