After 16 years, Penn stuns Big 5 rival Villanova after Ross’ electrifying game-winner

Villanova, PA — With the Big 5 title on the line, the Villanova Wildcats blew it.

What seemed to be an easy earned "Big 5" title in terms of statistics for the Villanova Wildcats turned out to be an exhilarating upset, as the Penn Quakers came out victorious in a 79-77 win Wednesday night.

The Wildcats came into the game with a 3-0 Big Five record, 62-9 all-time against the Ivy League, and 42-2 against Penn in all-time series.

The "Big 5" isn't an affiliated conference, but a cluster of all five Philadelphia basketball schools who compete for the city championship (Villanova, Penn, La Salle, Saint Joseph’s and Temple). Villanova was last year's champion.

With five seconds left on the clock, Villanova's Alex Louin drained a three-pointer to tie the game. Then, Penn senior Anna Ross took the ball off the inbounds pass and drove right to the net for a layup, putting an end to a 17-year losing streak to the Wildcats.

The Quakers took home the big win, 79-77.

The Quakers haven’t defeated the Wildcats since 2001, when Ross was just FOUR years old.

Penn head coach Mike McLaughlin got his first win against a Big East team, and was beyond stoked.

“They have the chance to win the Big Five and I think that is special. I want them to walk out of here and think they did something really special," McLaughlin said of his team.

Penn freshman Eleah Parker posted 25 points and nine rebounds, as Penn’s energy stopped Villanova’s aggressive attempts to clinch the title.

Villanova head coach Harry Perretta, having missed the opportunity to add another “Big 5” win to his belt, commented, “They just out hustled us. And out played us. And in the end the kid made a great shot to win the game.”