Women’s Basketball Knocks Off Penn State Brandywine

On a night when Penn State York honored seniors Emily Colon, Kayla Miller, and Karra Thomason, it was freshman Corina Rivera who led Penn State York to a 59–56 upset over first-place Penn State Brandywine on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Brandywine, ranked #4 in the USCAA Women's Basketball Division II Coaches Poll, came into the game at 12–0 in Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) play.

Penn State York jumped out on top 5–0 and built a lead through three quarters, leading by as many as 11 near the end of the third quarter. Brandywine started the fourth quarter on an 8–0 run and got as close as two points three different times, but Charzima Johnson (York, Pa. / West York), Sky Warner (Brogue, Pa. / Red Lion), and Ashley Wells (Mt. Wolf, Pa. / Northeastern) all made key free throws over the last 1:14 to seal the win.

Rivera (Lancaster, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic), played 38 minutes off the bench after the injured Colon (Lancaster, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic) received the courtesy start on Senior Night. The freshman led all scorers with 20 points, and also contributed 6 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. Johnson and Warner both added 11 points, while Johnson and Wells pulled down 6 rebounds a piece. Thomason (New Oxford, Pa. / Bermudian Springs) had an off-night shooting, but recorded 9 rebounds and 5 steals. Miller (Queens, Ny. / Hillcrest) grabbed 4 rebounds and scored 3 points.

Janelle Kress (Littlestown, Pa. / Littlestown) scored 8 points in 23 minutes off the bench, as York's reserves outscored Brandywine's, 39–9. York also enjoyed slight margins in rebounding, assists, and turnovers, in the all-around team effort.

With the big win, Penn State York moves up to #16 in the USCAA poll and is now 12–10 overall, sitting in fifth place in the PSUAC standings at 8–5. York travels to Penn State Mont Alto for the regular season finale at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9.