Stanford Leads Brandywine Past Immaculata

IMMACULATA, Pa. -- Sophomore Kendra Stanford (Philadelphia, Pa./William Bodine) set career highs with 20 points and 17 rebounds, helping the Penn State Brandywine women's basketball team best Immaculata 73-62 on Tuesday night.

Stanford made five of her 10 shots from the field and sank 10-of-14 attempts from the free throw line, eclipsing her previous career high of 13 points set last season. On the boards, Stanford pulled down 10 offensive rebounds and hauled in over one-third of the team's total rebounds.

Nikki Velez (Gloucester, N.J./Gloucester City) drained four three-pointers, scoring 17 points overall, while Brandi James (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) tallied 12 points. Chrissy Gledhill (Secane, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) totaled nine points and Nicolette Napoleon (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) grabbed seven boards.

Gina Cocci connected on a triple 29 seconds into the game to put Immaculata in front 3-0, but those would be the only points Brandywine would allow until the 4:22 mark of the first quarter. The Lions reeled off an 11-0 run, capped by a Velez triple, to build an eight-point advantage. Stanford's free throw pushed the lead to 10 points at 15-5, but the Mighty Macs chipped away, pulling within four, before Stanford sank a free throw and jumper to close out the opening stanza, giving Brandywine a 20-13 edge.

Madison D'Ambrosio (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) set down a layup as Brandywine's lead swelled back to double figures at the midway point of the second quarter. Four minutes later, Velez knocked down a three-pointer during the Lions' final possession of the half to give Brandywine a 37-23 edge at the break.

Immaculata put together a rally, outscoring Brandywine 23-15 during the third quarter to slice the deficit to six points entering the game's final 10 minutes.

The Lions' lead dipped as low as three points following Cocci's layup at the 5:23 mark, but Gledhill and James answered with back-to-back baskets to help Brandywine stay in front. Brandywine made nine free throws during the final 2:31 to fend off the Mighty Macs.

Brandywine, which evened its record at 2-2, shot 37 percent from the field and held a 46-39 edge on the boards.

The Lions play at home for the first time this season on Monday when they host Penn State Berks at 7:00 pm.