Media, Pa. (Dec. 2, 2024) - Alvernia University (4-3) took an early lead and never looked back as the Golden Wolves defeated Penn State Brandywine (1-5) 84-61 on Monday night in non-conference women's basketball action at Brandywine. 

The Golden Wolves jumped out to a 9-0 lead early in the first quarter and led by at least two possessions for the remainder of the game. 

How it Happened

• After a scoreless three minutes of action to open the game, Alvernia got on the board with a made free throw from Ryleigh Poole and a layup by Kylie Bradford. Alvernia then took a 9-0 lead with 5:33 to play in the first quarter off of 3-pointers from Poole and Olivia Burke.
• The Lions got on the board with a layup with 5:27 to play in the quarter, but both teams went scoreless for the next two minutes as Alvernia maintained its lead. The Lions ended the scoreless drought with a layup to cut Alvernia's lead down to five, but Alvernia answered with a Jennah DeGout layup on its next possession to go back up by seven, 11-4.
• Paige O'Brien added to Alvernia's early success from beyond the arc to give Alvernia an eight point lead, 14-6, with 90 seconds to play in the quarter. Alvernia then ended the quarter on a 5-0 run over the final 45 seconds with points from Kyla Reed and Kylie Bradford to take a 19-9 lead into the second quarter.
• Alvernia had a slow start to open the second quarter, allowing the Lions to get within four, 20-16. But, a pair of made free throws by Burke and a DeGout layup pushed Alvernia's lead back up to eight, 24-16, through just under three minutes of second quarter action.
• The Golden Wolves then made it an 11-point game, 27-16, on a Poole 3-pointer and made it a 13-point game, 29-16, on a Bradford layup as the quarter hit its midpoint.
• A pair of made 3-pointers and a DeGout layup made it a 15 point game, 39-24, with 2:43 to play in the half. Alvernia then took a 14 point lead, 42-28, into the half.
• Alvernia out-rebounded the Lions 27-15 in the first half and had 13 second chance points to the Lions' four. Alvernia also had 15 points off its bench in the first half to Penn State's three. 
• The Golden Wolves were held to free throws for the first three and a half minutes of the half, but Alvernia was able to maintain its lead as the Lions struggled to convert field goals as well. Alvernia then posted a quick four points off of back-to-back layups from Bradford to make it a 17 point game, 51-34, with 6:12 to play in the quarter.
• The Lions came out of a timeout and knocked down a 3-pointer to get back within 14, but Alvernia responded with back-to-back jumpers from DeGout to push its lead to 18, 55-37, with 4:47 to play in the third.
• The Golden Wolves maintained their lead in the latter half of the third quarter. A Poole jumper closed out the quarter for Alvernia and gave the Golden Wolves a 19 point advantage, 63-44, going into the final frame.
• A jumper by Bradford opened the fourth quarter for Alvernia and sent Alvernia's lead past 20 points, 65-44. The Golden Wolves kept rolling with a 3-pointer from Poole to make it a 22 point game.
• The Lions never threatened the rest of the way and Alvernia held at least a 20 point lead for a majority of the fourth quarter. A layup and 3-pointer from Reed gave Alvernia a 27 point lead - its largest lead of the night - with 1:17 to play. The Lions scored the final four points of the game, but Alvernia came away with the 84-61 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Kylie Bradford crushed her previous career-high of 15 points with a 25 point performance tonight. Bradford shot 8-for-10 from the field and 9-for-12 from the free throw line. She also had 12 rebounds for her first career double-double.
• Ryleigh Poole also finished with a career-high 14 points and was 3-for-5 from 3-point range.
• Kyla Reed finished with 11 points off the bench and Jennah DeGout finished with ten points.
• Alvernia finished with 23 second chance points and picked up 27 points from its bench.
• Alvernia posted early season highs in points (84), field goals made (28), 3-pointers made (9), and free throws made (19).

Up Next

• Alvernia has nearly two weeks off before returning to action at Muhlenberg on December 12th.