Athletics

Penn State Lehigh Valley Athletic Update

An update on the latest activities of the men's and women's basketball teams

Men's basketball downs Penn State Brandywine, 80-76, in overtime thriller

Penn State Lehigh Valley outlasted Penn State Brandywine by a score of 80-76 in overtime to claim a Penn State University Athletic Conference men's basketball victory and spoil Brandywine's Senior Night on Feb. 8 in Media, Pennsylvania. With the win, Lehigh Valley improves to 7-11 overall and 6-9 in PSUAC play.

Brandywine led by as many as 12 points in the second half, but Lehigh Valley rallied to tie the score at 67-67 with 27 seconds left in regulation as Jeremiah Jenkins' layup sent the game to overtime.

The teams traded baskets in the extra session before — with Brandywine in front by two — Jenkins buried a 3-pointer to give Lehigh Valley its first lead of the night at 74-73. Brandywine answered with a triple for the Lions, but Lehigh Valley countered with another 3-pointer, taking the lead for good with 27 seconds to play. Lehigh Valley sank 1-of-2 free throws with four seconds left to secure the victory.

Brandywine opened the game with eight-straight points and extended its lead to 10 points by the midway point of the first half. Lehigh Valley closed to within two, but Brandywine responded by reeling off 13 of the next 15 points, swelling the lead to double figures.

Lehigh Valley rallied again, using a 14-4 spurt to get to within one before a Brandywine layup sent the home team into the half with a 35-32 lead.

Brandywine put together seven-straight points, the last of which came on a Brandywine 3-pointer, to move the lead to 54-42 with 11:05 to play; however, Lehigh Valley steadily chipped away, getting within six with 4:16 to go.

A Brandywine layup extended the Lions' lead to 65-57, but Brandywine was limited to just two points, on a pair of free throws with 1:13 to play, the rest of the way as Lehigh Valley completed its comeback to send the game to overtime.

Jenkins led Lehigh Valley with 28 points. Sophomore Eric Johnson had a season-high 21 points, and first-year student Brandon Purrone added 11 points.

Brandywine, which shot 44 percent from the field and yielded 37 percent shooting to Lehigh Valley, was doomed by 28 turnovers, with 19 coming during the final 25 minutes.

Kion Andrews went for a layup against Penn State Brandywine on Feb. 15. Credit: Lorie Khalil / Penn StateCreative Commons

Women's basketball wins 18 straight, pounces on Penn State Wilkes Barre, 81-40

The Penn State Lehigh Valley women's basketball team continued its win streak by recording its 18th straight victory over host Penn State Wilkes-Barre, 81-40, on Feb. 10. With the win, Lehigh Valley improves to 19-2 overall and remains the lone unbeaten team in the PSUAC. 

Lehigh Valley opened the game on a 12-0 run and never looked back. Junior Ebony Sanders led the way recording yet another double double on the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds. First-year student Kion Andrews continued her hot streak recording a double double of her own with 14 points and 11 rebounds. First-year student, Ally Quinn, chipped in with 11 points.

Women's basketball wins its 19th straight and clinches the No. 1 seed in PSUAC playoffs

The Penn State Lehigh Valley women's basketball team kept its win streak alive, winning 19 straight, by downing Penn State Scranton, 107-56, Feb. 13 in Scranton. Five players scored in double digits, led by Ally Quinn with 21 points. Junior Ebony Sanders added 16 points and is 11 points away from the 1,000-point milestone. The first-year student trio of Kion Andrews, Jah'nel Oliver and Sarah McGee all had 15 points apiece. 

With the win, Lehigh Valley improves to 20-2 and has clinched the No. 1 seed in the East playoff bracket. The PSUAC playoffs will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, at Cedar Crest College. The No. 4 seed will travel to face No. 1 seed Lehigh Valley. The No. 3 seed will travel to the No. 2 seed. Winners of both games will advance to the semifinals on Friday, Feb. 22. Lehigh Valley is guaranteed a home playoff game at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Cedar Crest College. With a win in the semifinals, Lehigh Valley will play the PSUAC championship game at the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24.

Men's basketball falls at Penn State Scranton, 91-89 

The Penn State Lehigh Valley men's basketball team battled back down 21 points but a last second shot by Penn State Scranton gave the host the nail-biting win, 91-89. Senior Jeremiah Jenkins had a team-high 32 points. Senior Eric Gainor added 16 points, and first-year student Brandon Purrone recorded a double double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Ebony Sanders, Jeremiah Jenkins earn PSUAC Player of the Week accolades

Lehigh Valley pulls the sweep this week as we head into the last few days of conference play. Ebony Sanders was instrumental in keeping her team undefeated in PSUAC play, while Jeremiah Jenkins hit a game winner and led his team in scoring three times to keep the Lehigh Valley men's playoff chances alive.

Men's basketball slips up at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, 115-67

Senior Jeremiah Jenkins led the way for the Penn State Lehigh Valley men's basketball team with 22 points but it was not enough as PSUAC leading Penn State Wilkes-Barre was too much for Lehigh Valley, 115-67, Feb. 10 in Wilkes Barre. First-year student Brandon Purrone added 21 points for Lehigh Valley.

Lehigh Valley has 3 games remaining in the season.

Women's basketball wins 20th straight game, downing rival Penn State Brandywine, 68-63

Penn State Brandywine appeared primed to deal Penn State Lehigh Valley its first conference loss of the season, but Lehigh Valley erased a 12-point halftime deficit and held on to defeat Brandywine 68-63 on Senior Night on Feb. 15.

The teams swapped baskets for the first eight minutes of the contest before Lehigh Valley grabbed a four-point edge; however, Brandywine netted the final eight points of the opening quarter, leading 20-16 going into the second quarter.

Brandywine's scoring run continued into the second quarter as Brandywine knocked down triples and a layup, completing a 16-0 surge that had Brandywine in front 28-16.

Lehigh Valley closed to within four at 30-26 with 3:20 to go in the half, but Brandywine held the visitors without a point until intermission, scoring eight-straight points to lead 38-26 at the break.

With Brandywine still maintaining a 12-point cushion midway through the third quarter, Lehigh Valley began its comeback, using a 13-2 run to get within 46-45 after three quarters.

The visitors' 10-0 run to start the final stanza built Lehigh Valley a 55-46 lead with 7:01 to go.

The Lions rallied to get back in the game as Brandywine sank six free throws and adding a lay in to bring the count to 61-58 at the 1:29 mark. After Lehigh Valley sank two shots from the charity stripe, Brandywine's jumper again got Brandywine to within three.

Forced to put Lehigh Valley on the line, the visitors knocked down two free throws with 11 seconds to go, and after Brandywine canned a jumper, iced the game with two more shots from the foul line with two seconds remaining.

First-year student Kion Andrews led Lehigh Valley with 22 points and two more first-year students Jah'nel Oliver and Ally Quinn added 15 points each.

Lehigh Valley completed its regular season play 21-2 overall and a perfect 17-0 in conference play. Lehigh Valley will be the No. 1 seed in the East and host the quarterfinals and semifinals at home. First opening up with No. 4 Penn State Scranton at 7 p.m. on Feb. 19 at Cedar Crest College, with a win Lehigh Valley will play again at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22, at Cedar Crest College. The winners of the semi-final games will play for the 2019 PSUAC Women's Basketball Championship at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24, at the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park.

Men's basketball closes out season with 94-86 loss to Penn State New Kensington

The Penn State Lehigh Valley men's basketball team closed out its 2018-19 season with a 94-86 loss to Penn State New Kensington on Feb. 17 in western Pennsylvania. Lehigh Valley again trailed at halftime 49-38 and rallied back in the second half, but it was not enough as Lehigh Valley season came to an end. Senior Jeremiah Jenkins led with a game-high 38 points to close out his terrific collegiate basketball career. Sophomore Eric Johnson added 18 points and first-year student Maihan Ramin chipped in with 11 points. Lehigh Valley finishes the season 7-15 overall and 6-13 in PSUAC play.

Follow Penn State Lehigh Valley Athletics on Instagram @PennStateLVAthletics and Twitter @PennStateLVAthl.  Sign-up for athletic text alerts at http://psulehighvalleyathletics.com/list-signup.

Last Updated February 19, 2019

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