Lions Earn Senior Night Victory Over York

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine celebrated Senior Night by running away from Penn State York for a 66-50 Penn State University Athletic Conference women's basketball victory on Tuesday night.

Brandywine trailed 13-10 during the first quarter, but managed to take the lead by the end of the stanza by holding York scoreless over the final 3:22. Chelsea Dent (Yeadon, Pa./Penn Wood) netted the final four points to help Brandywine built a 14-13 edge.

York rallied to tie the score at 19-19 on Karra Thomason's layup at the 6:27 mark of the second quarter; however, that would be York's final made field goal of the half and Brandywine brought a 23-20 lead into the break.

Brandywine began to pull away in the third quarter as Chrissy Gledhill (Secane, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) started an 8-0 run with a three-pointer. Dent followed with a basket before Brandi James (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) added a layup and free throw, making the score 31-22. York fought back to within two late in the stanza, but a three-point play by Nikki Velez (Gloucester, N.J./Gloucester City) and lay in from James made the Lions' lead 44-37 through 30 minutes.

York netted the first four points of the final stanza, but Brandywine pulled away for the final time behind Velez and James, who combined for 19 of the Lions' 22 fourth-quarter points. Velez made the lead eight with a triple, giving her at least one three-pointer in 21 consecutive games, and three minutes later, pushed the advantage to double figures for the first time. James made four free throws and Velez added two during the final 1:18 to account for the final margin.

James poured in a career-high 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field and 9-of-10 marksmanship from the free throw line. She also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

Velez contributed 14 points and three assists, while Dent and Gledhill both chipped in with 10 points. Dent also dished out four helpers, while Alyssa Abbonizio (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) collected 10 rebounds.

Brandywine (18-6, 11-2 PSUAC) closes out the regular season Friday at Penn State Lehigh Valley at 6:00 pm. A victory would give Brandywine the No. 2 seed in the PSUAC Tournament and a bye to the semifinals.