Brandywine’s Tournament Run Ends In Quarterfinals

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. – Fifth-seeded Penn State Brandywine saw its season come to a conclusion as the Lions were defeated 64-51 by top-seeded Penn State Schuylkill Monday night in the Penn State University Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament quarterfinal round.

Brandywine fell behind 13-3 through six minutes before Sierra Diawara's (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) jumper began a run of six-straight points for the Lions.

Schuylkill owned a 16-9 advantage through one quarter and pushed the margin to 12 points less than three minutes into the second period.

Brandywine rallied during the final four minutes of the half as Kaitlyn Johnson (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) sank two free throws and Amanda Floyd (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) drained a three-pointer to get the Lions within seven. Amelia Brooks (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) added a jumper to get Brandywine within six and Floyd knocked down another triple with 24 seconds left as Brandywine closed to within five at the break.

The hosts led by nine late in the third period, but six consecutive Brandywine points, capped by Anaiyah Allen's (Lutz, Fla./Steinbrenner) basket that trimmed the Lions' deficit to three; however, a turnover led to a Schuylkill basket to end the quarter as the hosts led 46-41 with 10 minutes to play.

Brandywine continued to hang tough with the East Division's top seed, climbing as close as four points down when Floyd sank two free throws with 3:16 left in the fourth, but Schuylkill answered with back-to-back jumpers to extend its edge back to eight points.

Schuylkill used the free throw line to pull away during the final minutes, making all eight of its attempts, to secure a spot in the tournament semifinals.

Brandywine limited Schuylkill to 29 percent shooting from the field and 1-of-12 marksmanship from beyond the arc, but the difference in the game came at the charity stripe. Schuylkill knocked down 23-of-24 free throws, while Brandywine was 11-for-16 at the line.

Floyd produced 14 points, while Diawara netted 12. Allen, Johnson and Hope Coacher (Ardmore, Pa./Haverford) all added six points.

Allen and Floyd tied for the team lead with nine rebounds, while Brooks pulled in six boards. Floyd also tallied five assists and Johnson produced five steals.

Schuylkill received 20 points and 17 rebounds from Alyssa Gerber and a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double from Tajae Stevenson.