Lions Dominate Central Penn In Road Win

MANHEIM, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine forced 35 turnovers and limited Central Penn to 29 percent shooting as the Lions won their third-straight game, evening their record at 3-3, with an 80-43 triumph on Thursday night.

Brandywine, which led by as many as 39 points late in the third quarter, netted 34 points off of Knight miscues. The Lions committed a season-low 12 turnovers and recorded assists on 19-of-27 made baskets.

Nikki Velez (Gloucester, N.J./Gloucester City) poured in 21 points, while adding six assists, five rebounds and four steals. Velez drained 12 of her 13 attempts from the free throw line, aiding Brandywine, which shot 85 percent (23-27) at the charity stripe.

Kendra Stanford (Philadelphia, Pa./William Bodine) just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds as did Brandi James (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro), who registered 18 points and eight boards. Chrissy Gledhill (Secane, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) topped the team with eight assists and added five points and three steals.

Brandywine used an 11-2 spurt to establish an eight-point lead after one quarter and pushed its edge to 24 points by outscoring Central Penn 22-6 during the second quarter. Velez and James combined for 14-straight points during a 17-0 second quarter run for the Lions.

Stanford's layup capping a 15-0 surge gave Brandywine its biggest lead of the night at the 4:16 mark of the third quarter.

Brandywine shot 35 percent from the floor and received 48 points from its reserves, while Central Penn posted just eight bench points. Amira Howard paced the Knights with 14 points and 26 rebounds, but also committed 11 turnovers.

Brandywine returns to Media on Saturday to host Penn State Lehigh Valley in its Penn State University Athletic Conference opener at 1:00 pm.