Lehigh Valley Escapes With Key PSUAC Victory Over Brandywine

MEDIA, Pa. – Four players scored in double figures and Penn State Brandywine forced 31 turnovers, but the Lions were edged by Penn State Lehigh Valley in a back-and-forth affair by a score of 83-76 on Tuesday night.

Brandywine ran out to a 7-2 lead after 2 ½ minutes and led by seven points during the opening quarter after Chelsea Dent (Yeadon, Pa./Penn Wood) buried a three-pointer at the 2:46 mark. Jilly Gledhill (Secane, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) connected on a basket to extend the Lions' lead to 20-11 before a pair of free throws made from Nicole Amann cut Brandywine's edge down to seven after one quarter. Brandywine held Lehigh Valley to just 2-of-14 shooting during the opening 10 minutes.

Nicolette Napoleon (Springfield, Pa./Penn Charter) opened the second quarter with a bucket, but Lehigh Valley rattled off the next nine points to knot the score at 22-22. Lehigh Valley scored three-straight baskets to build a six-point lead, but Brandywine held it scoreless over the final 2:21 and Dent netted a pair of free throws and a layup as the Lions trailed by one at the break.

The Lions upped their lead to six late in the third quarter, but Lehigh Valley quickly rallied, using an Andrea Watkins free throw to knot the score at 56-56 after 30 minutes.

The fourth quarter featured four lead changes and five ties with neither team leading by more than four until the final seconds. Jessy Gledhill (Secane, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) broke a 69-69 tie with a three and Cashae Hinton (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) extended the lead to four with a free throw; however Llaci Henry sank back-to-back jumpers to even score at 73.

Gledhill put the Lions back in front with a bucket at the 2:19 mark, but two-straight scores from Lehigh Valley vaulted it in front with under 60 seconds to play.

Munro cut the deficit to one by draining a free throw with 22 ticks on the clock, but Lehigh Valley sank six free throws down the stretch and held Brandywine off the scoreboard to secure the win.

Gledhill led the Lions with 16 points, while Olivia Encarnacion (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) contributed 13 points and Dent netted 11. Hinton totaled 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals and Munro added eight boards and seven steals.

Lehigh Valley had five scorers in double digits and held a 57-41 advantage on the glass.

Brandywine (5-4, 2-2 PSUAC) plays its final game before a three-week break on Thursday against Penn State Berks at 7:00 pm.