Lions Edge Clermont In Overtime; Finish Home Tournament Unbeaten

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine overcame a seven-point halftime deficit and clipped Cincinnati-Clermont 53-51 in overtime on Friday evening to complete its home holiday tournament with a pair of victories.

After being limited to three made field goals during the first half, Brandywine found the range during the final 20 minutes behind hot-shooting freshman Nikki Velez (Gloucester, N.J./Gloucester).

Velez scored the Lions' first 12 points of the third quarter, including a trio of three-pointers, to bring Brandywine within one.

With 1:16 left in the third, Nicolette Napoleon (Springfield, Pa./Penn Charter) sank a layup to give Brandywine its first lead since early in the first quarter. Madison D'Ambrosio (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) tacked on two free throws to push the lead to three points after three quarters.

Brianna Beasley buried a triple to knot the score at 31-31 and the teams traded baskets over the next seven minutes before four consecutive points from Chelsea Dent (Yeadon, Pa./Penn Wood) gave the Lions a 45-41 advantage.

However, Clermont answered with the final four points of regulation, including a layup with three seconds by Arica Stutz to send the game to overtime.

Neither team led by more than two points during the extra session. Brandywine trailed 51-49 with 1:14 left, but Velez sank a pair of free throws to tie the score. During the Lions' ensuing possession, D'Ambrosio was fouled and drained two shots from the charity stripe to push the Lions into the lead.

Clermont had three opportunities during the final 18 seconds, but each shot rang off the iron and Brandywine held on.

Velez, who was named to the all-tournament team, finished with a career-high 23 points. She connected on three triples and made 10-of-12 shots from the free throw line, while also pulling down five rebounds.

Dent added 11 points and seven boards and D'Ambrosio chipped in nine points and four rebounds. Napoleon topped the Lions with nine boards.

Brandywine (7-4) returns to the court on Wednesday when it hosts Widener at 7:00 pm.