Lions Extend Winning Streak To Five With Triumph At Hazleton

HAZLETON, Pa. -- The Penn State Brandywine women's basketball team saw its winning streak reach five games Monday night as the Lions rolled past Penn State Hazleton 72-27 in the team's regular-season road finale.

Brandywine, which yielded fewer than 40 points for the sixth time this season, allowed Hazleton's offense to make just seven field goals on 46 attempts. The Lions also forced 38 turnovers, collecting 22 steals.

Chantel Hatton (Philadelphia, Pa./Chester) paced 12 players in the scoring column with a career-best 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting and recorded five steals. Brandi James (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) added 13 points, six rebounds and four steals, while Nikki Velez (Gloucester, N.J./Gloucester City) registered 11 points.

Brandywine netted 29 points off Hazleton turnovers and the Lions' reserves outscored Hazleton's bench 31-0.

Brandi Johnson (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) topped the team in rebounding with 11 boards as the Lions also held a commanding edge on the glass, 65-44.

Velez knocked down two of her three triples and scored eight points overall during the first quarter, helping Brandywine race out to a 15-6 lead after 10 minutes.

The Lions outscored Hazleton 9-1 during the first 3:28 of the second quarter, expanding the advantage to 17 points. Brandywine took a lead of the same margin into the break, in front 32-15.

Brandywine put the game away with a 22-0 surge to start the third quarter. James scored eight of the first 10 points before Hatton capped the run with a layup at the three-minute mark that made the count 54-15.

Brandywine (17-7, 14-2) hosts Penn State Lehigh Valley for Senior Night during its regular-season finale on Friday at 7:00 pm.