Women's Basketball Opens PSUAC Play 2-0

RECAP FROM FRIDAY, DEC. 2 & SATURDAY, DEC. 3

The Penn State Lehigh Valley Women's Basketball team opened up PSUAC play this weekend defeating host PSU York on Friday night, 60-35 and defeating host PSU Brandywine Saturday afternoon 76-55 to improve to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in conference.

After a slow start vs. PSU York, the team picked up its defensive intensity in the 2nd half to capitalize on their halftime lead.  Junior Andrea Watkins led Lehigh Valley with 19 points. Freshman Ebony Sanders dominated the point with a 15 point and 17 rebound contribution. Senior Ashley Gordon chipped in with her own double double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. 

Fifteen hours later, Lehigh Valley was back on the floor to take on PSU Brandywine in a Saturday afternoon showdown in Media. Lehigh Valley's defense proved to give Brandywine fits. Brandywine went nearly nine minutes without a point during the second quarter as Penn State Lehigh Valley turned a five-point lead into a 21-point edge at half and claimed a 76-55 victory over the Lions on Saturday afternoon.

Lehigh Valley scored 12 of the game's first 14 points, but Brandywine battled back midway through the first quarter going on a 9-2 run.

A Brandywine jumper with 19 seconds left in the quarter brought Brandywine within five; however, the Lions would go cold in the second, scoring just two points as Lehigh Valley pulled away, establishing a 21-point halftime lead.

Brandywine fought to within 11 at the midway point of the third quarter by limiting Lehigh Valley to just one made field goal over a five-minute span. Brandywine opened an 11-2 surge making the score 40-29.

After Lehigh Valley answered with 10 consecutive points, Brandywine again sliced the deficit to 11 early in the fourth quarter. However, Bradnywine was held without a field goal over the next 4:07 as Lehigh Valley pulled away behind Andrea Watkins, who scored 11 of her game-high 30 points during the final stanza. Sophomore Gia Erie had a double double contributing 15 points and 14 rebounds. Senior Ashley Gordon contributed a double double of her own with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Myasia Taylor in his first career start had a monster game on both sides of the ball scoring 13 points and recording 6 steals. 

Lehigh Valley will have one more week of 1st semester play hosting PSU Mont Alto Tuesday at 6 PM at Cedar Crest College and Friday traveling to PSU Wilkes Barre for a 6 PM tip-off. 

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