Brandywine Drops Final Regular-Season Game

ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- The Penn State Brandywine women's basketball team was held to 20 percent shooting during a 78-36 loss to Penn State Lehigh Valley in the Lions' season finale on Friday night.

Lehigh Valley made 51 percent of its shots from the field and 17-of-22 free throws, while Brandywine attempted only eight shots from the charity stripe, making five.

Brandywine trailed 15-4 early in the first quarter, but back-to-back three-pointers from Nikki Velez (Gloucester, N.J./Gloucester City) made the deficit just five.

Lehigh Valley led 19-12 through one quarter and increased its lead to 18 points by halftime after limiting Brandywine to just one made field goal, a buzzer beater by Alyssa Abbonizio (Springfield, Pa./Springfield), during the second stanza.

Lehigh Valley put the game away by closing the third quarter with an 11-2 run.

Velez was the lone player from Brandywine to reach double figures in scoring with 13 points. Brandi James (Glenolden, Pa./Interboro) added eight points and six rebounds, while Abbonizio pulled in 10 boards.

Ashley Gordon recorded 21 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and five steals to lead Lehigh Valley, which will be the top seed in next week's PSUAC Tournament.

Brandywine (18-7, 11-3 PSUAC) is likely to be the No. 4 seed and host No. 5 Penn State Fayette in a PSUAC Quarterfinal on Wednesday at 6:00 pm. The Lions defeated Fayette 87-74 in last season's quarterfinal round. Final seeding and pairings will be determined with Saturday night's results.