Brandywine Outlasts Greater Allegheny 69-53

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine won its second game in less than 24 hours in western Pennsylvania, completing a weekend sweep by powering past Penn State Greater Allegheny 69-53 in Penn State University Athletic Conference women's basketball action on Saturday afternoon.

One day after pouring in a career-best 26 points in a victory at Penn State DuBois, Brandi James (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) eclipsed that mark by dumping in 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and the free throw line. James also recorded eight rebounds, three steals and three assists, while Madison Michael (Brookhaven, Pa./Sun Valley) added 16 points.

The first quarter was closely contested with Brandywine taking a three-point lead after 10 minutes following Michael's jumper with 27 seconds to go.

Late in the second period, Brandywine increased the edge to eight points when Madison D'Ambrosio (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) knocked down a three-pointer and James followed with a bucket. Two minutes later, James sent Brandywine into halftime with a double-figure advantage by sinking a jumper.

The Lions pulled away during the third quarter, using a 12-3 run after Greater Allegheny had closed to within six. James scored the first seven points of the surge, while Michael added a triple and a layup to extend the margin to 46-31 with 3:45 to go in the stanza. Michael later added two free throws to make the score 52-35 heading to the fourth quarter.

The hosts made a run, outscoring Brandywine 14-4 over the first six minutes of the final period, but Michael put an end to the Greater Allegheny momentum, burying a triple at the 3:42 mark.

Forced to foul, Greater Allegheny saw Brandywine make all six of its free throws, two each from James, Michael and Nikki Velez (Gloucester, N.J./Gloucester City), in a span of 57 seconds and James and Brandi Johnson (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) put the game out of reach by canning jumpers during the final minute.

Brandywine shot 48 percent from the field, while making 19-of-23 free throws and holding a 33-27 edge on the glass to top Greater Allegheny, the second-place team in the PSUAC West Division.

Brandywine (15-7, 12-2 PSUAC) will have a week off before traveling to Penn State York on Saturday, Feb. 9 for a 1:00 pm game.