Nikki Velez
Nikki Velez

Brandywine Falls At Eastern

ST. DAVID'S, Pa. – Penn State Brandywine fell behind by 12 points after the first quarter and could not catch up as the Lions' women's basketball team dropped a 70-52 decision at Eastern University Tuesday night.

Eastern ran out to a 10-2 edge and upped the lead to 18-6 with three layups during the final 61 seconds of the first quarter.

Brandywine used a 10-2 spurt early in the second stanza to climb within six as Amelia Brooks (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) sank back-to-back buckets and Madison D'Ambrosio (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) added two free throws and layup. Three minutes later, the Lions brought the deficit to just four when Nikki Velez (Gloucester, N.J./Gloucester City) connected on a basket, but Eastern buried a three-pointer just before the half to make the score 29-22 after 20 minutes.

Brooks and Ginamarie McNamee (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) made consecutive baskets to begin the third quarter; however, Eastern countered with a 17-7 run during the next five minutes to expand its lead back to double figures.

The Eagles scored the last three points of the third period to lead 55-42 and then scored 14 of the first 20 points during the final quarter to pull away.

Velez and D'Ambrosio tied for the team lead in scoring with 15 points, while Brooks chipped in eight and three rebounds. Velez also collected five steals, five assists and four boards.

The Eagles outrebounded the Lions 49-30, pulling down 23 offensive boards, which led to 19 second-chance points.

Brandywine (2-3, 1-1 PSUAC) returns to conference play following a week-long break when the Lions visit Penn State Scranton on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 8:00 pm.