(MEDIA, Pa.) – Chelcie Forrester (Jr., Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippensburg / WVU Potomac State) and
Allie Cullison (Sr., Westminster, Md. / Winters Mill / Kean) each scored 15 points to lead Wilson in a victory over Penn State Brandywine in the penultimate game of the regular season. The Phoenix overcame a six-point deficit in the third quarter to pull ahead and then pull away from the Nittany Lions down the stretch. The win also guarantees the Phoenix will finish .500 or better in conference play.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 77, Penn State Brandywine 69
Venue: Brandywine Commons
Records: Wilson 9-15, 8-7 UE; Penn State Brandywine 2-21, 1-14 UE
How It Happened
- The Nittany Lions got off to a strong start and took a 17-8 lead at the midway point after a layup coupled with an and-one free throw. A Laela Robinson (Sr., Lancaster, Pa. / Conestoga Valley) 3-pointer and a jumper by Lae Black (Jr., Laurel, Md. / Meade / Bluefield State) cut the deficit down to four immediately after, but it was the closest the Phoenix could get for the time being. They eventually tied the game at 30-all as Cullison sank a triple with 3:35 to go in the second quarter. After a Brandywine free throw, Aniya Gonzalez (FY, Reading, Pa. / Governor Mifflin) put Wilson in the lead with a layup. It was short-lived as the Nittany Lions added a mid-range jumper to take a one-point lead into halftime.
- The hosts stretched the lead back out to six at the start of the third quarter before the Phoenix started to make their move. Cullison drained another trey to make it 41-38 three minutes into the frame while Chloe Irving (FY, Martinsburg, W.Va. / Martinsburg) and Robinson added buckets to regain the lead. Brandywine answered with a 3-pointer, but Wilson was quick to prevent momentum switching ends again as Irving drove the lane for a layup. On the Nittany Lions return trip, Black blocked a layup attempt which helped create an Irving inside jumper for the lead. Kailee Soto (FY, Lancaster, Pa. / Columbia) added a pair of 3-pointers to keep Wilson in front and head to the fourth up 52-49.
- The long-range offense followed suit as Mackenzie Caldwell-Degnon (So., Rockville, Md. / Richard Montgomery) opened up the final frame with a trey. Wilson's defense also picked up as it limited the Nittany Lions without a field goal for the first four minutes. By that time the Phoenix extended the lead to nine. An 8-0 run capped by a Cullison bunny eventually followed and gave Wilson its largest lead of the night at 68-53. Brandywine was able to cut the deficit to five, but Wilson was too strong at the free throw line as it went 7-for-8 to prevent the Nittany Lions to get any closer.
Inside The Numbers
- Forrester had a solid all-around game as she tallied her 15 after going 5-for-7 from the field. She was a rebound shy of a double-double and added a pair of steals to her line as well.
- Cullison was also strong on the shooting side as she went 5-for-10 overall with three 3-pointers and four rebounds.
- Irving reached double-figures on the glass with a game-high 13 boards. She helped Wilson control the boards by a 48-42 margin over Brandywine.
- Black provided a complete game with eight points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal.
- In addition to her pair of 3-pointers, Soto was stealthy on the defensive side with five steals.
- Trinell Watson led the Nittany Lions with a game-high 24 points. She was 9-for-17 overall with two 3-pointers, six rebounds, and five steals.
Up Next
Senior Day awaits the Phoenix as they host Cairn in the regular season finale.
