Another day, another piece of Ancient Eight breaking news.
After Friday’s announcement of Harvard coach Kathy Delaney-Smith’s retirement at season’s end, Monday afternoon brought surprise news of Penn’s suspension of all of the team’s juniors and seniors for violation of university policy. The specific policy was not disclosed, but the infraction will cost each of the nine upper-class students four games. Since suspending the entire group would leave the Quakers with only eight true first-years and sophomores, none with any collegiate experience, the Red & Blue have elected to spread the penalties over the team’s first eight regular-season contests.
Penn Athletics provided this statement to Ivy Hoops Online:
“The Penn women’s basketball program will be suspending its junior and senior student-athletes for four games each due to a violation of University policy. The suspensions will be staggered over the first eight regular-season games. Penn Athletics will have no additional comment on this matter.”
The list of suspended players is led by 2020 first team All-Ivy and Rookie of the Year Kayla Padilla, as well as seniors Kennedy Suttle, Meg Hair, Mia Lakstigala and Nikola Kovacikova. The other third-years receiving discipline are Mandy McGurk, Faye Parker, Sydnei Caldwell, and Silke Milliman.
The depleted rosters will be in place from Penn’s season opener at Hartford on Sunday through their visit to Bucknell on December 3. The stretch will include Big 5 home games versus Villanova and La Salle, as well as two contests in Padilla’s hometown of Los Angeles against San Diego and Memphis at the Loyola Marymount Thanksgiving Classic.
It is unclear whether the suspended players will be allowed on the bench or be part of the trip out west. Penn Athletics had not responded to a request for clarification at publication time.
The Daily Pennsylvanian was first to report the news of the suspensions.
The Quakers will be at full strength for the first time all year when they welcome Kara Lawson’s Duke Blue Devils to the Palestra on December 5. The Red & Blue will have three more games together before starting the Ancient Eight’s season on January 2 at Brown.