Lehigh Valley Deals Lions First League Loss

MEDIA, Pennsylvania – Penn State Lehigh Valley rallied from a 14-point, first-half deficit and knocked off Penn State Brandywine 87-83, handing the Lions their first PSUAC loss of the season on Thursday night at Lehigh Carbon Community College.

Brandywine used an 11-0 run capped off by Lauren Munro's (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) layup, to build a seven-point lead early in the first half.

Stacey MacArthur (Newtown Square, Pa./Delco Christian) pushed the lead to nine with a three-pointer and canned another triple at the 7:36 mark, making Brandywine's advantage 14 points.

However, Lehigh Valley stormed back, closing the half with a 16-5 run, and trailed by just three at halftime.

The Lions led by nine following Jessy Gledhill's (Secane, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) three-point play with 14:18 to play, but PSLV scored nine of the game's next 11 points to pull within two just four minutes later.

In the midst of a 10-0 surge midway through the half, Taylor Russell gave Lehigh Valley its first lead since the contest's opening minute and PSLV would not trail again.

Munro sank two free throws with 2:53 to play that tied the score at 76-76, but Russell answered with a basket and Lehigh Valley made all five of its free throws during the final 1:33 to hold on for the victory.

Brandywine starters combined for 73 of the team's points, with Munro leading the way, netting 21. MacArthur added 20 points, while Cashae Hinton (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) and Olivia Encarnacion (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) both scored 15.

Andrea Watkins registered 24 points for Lehigh Valley, while Russell recorded 22 points off the bench.

Brandywine (15-6, 9-1) looks to bounce back Saturday at Penn State Hazleton.