Brandywine Downs Bryn Athyn 73-32 In Return From Break

MEDIA, Pa. -- The Penn State Brandywine women's basketball team opened 2019 with its seventh-straight victory, easily knocking off Bryn Athyn College 73-32 on its home floor Wednesday night.

Brandi Johnson (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) and Brandi James (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) combined for 12 of the Lions' first 13 points as Brandywine ran out to a 13-2 lead after seven minutes.

Brandywine extended the margin to 17-6 at the conclusion of the first quarter and then ran away over the next 10 minutes by holding Bryn Athyn to just two points on 1-of-12 shooting. The visitors also committed 10 of their 25 turnovers during the period as Brandywine opened up a 30-8 edge at the break.

The second half was no different for the Lions, who shot 11-for-17 from the field during the third quarter, scoring 30 points, to grow the lead to 60-19. James tallied five points, while Nikki Velez (Gloucester, N.J./Gloucester City) knocked down three-pointers 26 seconds apart during a 13-0 Brandywine run that moved the lead to 52-13. Ginamarie McNamee (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) netted a pair of layups during the final two minutes to set the margin at 41 entering the final quarter.

Johnson buried a triple with 3:35 to go in the game, giving Brandywine its largest lead of the night at 45 points.

Brandywine received points from 10 different players, topped by a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double by James. Velez added four triples, totaling 12 points, while Johnson collected nine points. McNamee and Chantel Hatton (Philadelphia, Pa./Chester) both tallied eight points and Ally Giannakarios (Brookhaven, Pa./Sun Valley) added seven.

The Lions held a 51-41 edge on the boards and pulled down 17 offensive rebounds, while shooting 37 percent from the field. Velez pulled down five rebounds, while Hatton grabbed five of Brandywine's 18 steals. Bryn Athyn was limited to 21 percent shooting, including a 2-16 mark from outside the three-point arc.

Brandywine puts its winning streak on the line Saturday at home against Eastern University at 1:00 pm.