Penn State Lehigh Valley athletic update

Women's basketball runs by Penn State Mont Alto, 97-72

The Penn State Lehigh Valley women's basketball team improved to 2-1 in PSUAC play with a 97-72 victory over PSUAC host Penn State Mont Alto Dec. 3 in Mont Alto. Lehigh Valley held a 50-28 halftime lead and never looked back. Taylor Styles shot 4 for 6 from three-point land to lead the way with 22 points. Ebony Sanders was a force inside recording 21 points. Jah'nel Oliver chipped in with 17 points.

group of basketball players

Penn State Lehigh Valley women's basketball team beat Penn State Mont Alto on Dec. 3.

Credit: Lorie Khalil

Men's basketball falls at Penn State Mont Alto, 81-62

Penn State Lehigh Valley men's basketball junior, Hesro Johnson, had a career night scoring a career and game-high 31 points. Johnson shot 13 for 21 from the field including 2 for 3 from three-point land. Johnson's big scoring night was not enough as Lehigh Valley fell to host Penn State Mont Alto, 81-62, Dec. 3 in Mont Alto. Connor O'Brien and Jacquiel Washington recorded eight points apiece. 

Women's basketball falls to NCAA Division II Kutztown University

Penn State Lehigh Valley women's basketball struggled shooting from the floor in the first half and could not hold off the hot shooting of host NCAA Division II foe, Kutztown University, Nov. 30 in Kutztown. Lehigh Valley would be down 21-10 after the first quarter, but only managed to score six points to Kutztown's 26 points in the second quarter. Ebony Sanders led with another double double 23 points and 11 rebounds. 

Men's basketball stumbles at Penn State Brandywine, 95-65

The Penn State Lehigh Valley men's basketball team fell to host Penn State Brandywine, 95-65, Nov. 23 in Media. Hesro Johnson and Dajour Douglas paced Lehigh Valley with 14 points apiece.

Penn State Brandywine went to the free throw with 1:48 to play and took the lead for good as the Lions ended Penn State Lehigh Valley's 21-game women's basketball winning streak against conference opponents during a back-and-forth, defensive struggle on Nov. 23 in Media.

Brandywine dealt Lehigh Valley its first loss to a PSUAC foe since Brandywine was on the winning end of a 70-63 decision in the 2017-18 PSUAC Championship game. Each of Lehigh Valley's five most recent setbacks in conference play have now come against Brandywine.

The game was a defensive deadlock from the outset as both teams managed just four points during the opening quarter.

A Brandywine three-point play early in the second period gave Brandywine its first lead of the game and the largest lead by either squad during the first half at 7-4. The teams swapped baskets in the second quarter; Brandywine went into the half with a 21-18 edge.

The third quarter was the same story as neither team could build a lead larger than three for the first nine minutes; however, Yasmine Herrera buried a three-pointer, the first of the game for either team, to give Lehigh Valley a 40-34 edge with 17 seconds remaining in the period.

Lehigh Valley upped the margin to nine points two minutes into the final quarter, but Brandywine came storming back, using a 14-4 run to vault back in front. Brandywine connected on only two triples of the afternoon during the surge, while Brandywine registered a pair of put-back layups, including the go-ahead basket with 3:27 on the clock.

After three free throws put Lehigh Valley back on top, Brandywine sank two from the charity stripe for Brandywine, evening the count at 53-53 and 48 seconds later, Brandywine free throw gave the Lions a one-point edge.

Brandywine trekked to the free throw line eight times during the final 52 seconds, making 7-of-8 shots, and Brandywine's defense held strong, limiting the visitors to 1-for-7 shooting during the final minute to secure the victory.

Brandywine claimed victory despite shooting just 25 percent from the field as the Lions sank 19-of-23 free throws and held a 65-51 edge on the glass. The Lions produced 17 second-chance points and netted 18 points off 23 Lehigh Valley turnovers.

Taylor Styles led the way for Lehigh with 15 points. Ebony Sanders added a double double with 11 points and 21 rebounds. Jah'nel Oliver recorded a double double of her own with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

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Contact

Lorie Khalil

Head Women's Basketball Coach/Coordinator of Athletic Programs