Hazleton Holds On To Down Brandywine

MEDIA, Pa. – Penn State Hazleton held off numerous Penn State Brandywine rallies and earned a 73-68 victory Friday night in a key PSUAC women's basketball game.

Hazleton ran out to an 8-0 lead and grew its edge to 12 during the first quarter before Brandywine began to mount a rally. Cashae Hinton (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) drained a jumper to help the Lions climb within seven and Chelsea Dent (Yeadon, Pa./Penn Wood) beat the buzzer with a three-pointer to make the score 19-13 after one quarter.

Hazleton's advantage pushed back to double figures midway through the second quarter, but the Lions ended the half with 10 of the final 12 points, including a pair of free throws from Jessy Gledhill (Secane, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara), brought Brandywine within two at 29-27 after 20 minutes.

Brandywine started the second half the same way it opened the first, going cold, as Hazleton netted the first nine points. The Lions again rallied, closing the deficit to 45-44 following a Jilly Gledhill (Secane, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) triple; however Hazleton's lead swelled back to eight early in the fourth quarter.

Hazleton owned a 65-56 lead with 5:55 to play, but Brandywine reeled off eight-straight points, capped off by a Jessy Gledhill layup that made the score 65-64. Brandywine closed within one point twice more during the final two minutes, but could not tie the score and Hazleton sank four free throws down the stretch to remain unbeaten in the PSUAC.

Olivia Encarnacion (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) and Dent paced the Lions with 16 points apiece, while Hinton added 11 points, five steals and four assists and Jessy Gledhill poured in 10 points.

Brandywine made all 11 of its free throws, but shot 37 percent from the field. Hazleton, led by Alexis Daly's 20 points, committed 25 turnovers and shot 39 percent from the floor.

Brandywine (10-7, 4-4 PSUAC) is back at home Saturday afternoon against Penn State York at 1:00 pm.