Brandywine Rally Falls Short In Return From Break

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine nearly rallied from 19 points down, but Bryant & Stratton-Albany outscored the Lions 20-9 during the final 10 minutes to claim a 80-72 women's basketball victory on Friday night.

With 3:26 to go in the second period, Brandywine faced its largest deficit of the night, trailing 44-25; however, the Lions closed the half with a 14-2 surge to get within seven at the break.

Amanda Floyd (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) started the run with a layup before Anaiyah Allen's (Lutz, Fla./Steinbrenner) three-point play and Cheyenne Rivas' (Thorndale, Pa./Collegium Charter) basket brought Brandywine within 12. After a bucket by the Bobcats, Katelyn Johnson (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) buried a three-pointer, while Floyd and Allen made layups to bring the count to 46-39 through 20 minutes.

The Lions' rally continued in the third quarter as Floyd converted a three-point play; Sierra Diawara (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) scored four consecutive points; and Amelia Books (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) capped a 10-0 spurt with a triple. Brooks' three-pointer gave Brandywine its first lead since early in the opening quarter at 51-50 with 5:25 to play in the third.

An Allen three-pointer handed Brandywine a two-point edge close out the third period, but BSA opened the fourth by scoring eight-straight points to vault back in front. Floyd's basket with 6:52 to play trimmed the margin to four points, but that is as close as the Lions would get as the Bobcats used a 10-2 run to swell their lead to double figures.

Floyd tallied team bests with 21 points and nine rebounds and collected three steals, while Allen coupled a career-high eight assists with 19 points and six boards. Diawara added 12 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots and Brooks and Johnson each contributed nine points.

Brandywine shot 40 percent from the field and buried a season-best 10 three-pointers, but Bryant & Stratton netted 25 points off Lion turnovers and outscored Brandywine 48-20 in the paint.

The teams will meet again Saturday on the Lions' home floor beginning at 1:00 pm.