The Brandywine Bobcats took a break from their Lakeland Conference schedule to host the Hornets of Mendon on Monday night and came away with a 51-33 victory.

The Bobcats, playing without backup guard Rachael Ort, who rolled her ankle during the pre-game warm-ups and also were without their head coach Josh Hood, who was at home with the flu.

The Bobcats came out flat and looked as if they were missing the intensity that the usually comes from their coach.

After Carlie Newman scored the first basket of the game Brandywine went nearly three full minutes before scoring again. Trailing 4-3, Morgan Smallwood knocked down a 3-point basket to give the Bobcats the lead that they would never relinquish.

Two more baskets by the home team gave the ’Cats the 10-4 advantage after one period of play.

Both teams seemed to warm up a little more in the second period, but Brandywine was able to extend its lead by four as it took a 25-15 lead to the break.

Brandywine was led by Newman with 12 of the team’s 25 points in the first half.

Brandywine seemed to start the second half with a little more intensity than it started the game. Five quick points from Kelsey Prestly and a long-range jumper from Newman increased the Bobcats’ lead to 33-15.

After a basket by Mendon, it was another 3-pointer by Newman that gave Brandywine a 36-17 lead.

The two teams would exchange baskets over the last three minutes of the stanza and the home team would take a commanding 44-23 lead into the final period of play.

“The girls had to make an adjustment with the coach not being here, but I thought they came out a little stronger in the second and third quarters” assistant coach Kalie Newman said. “I thought the third quarter our intensity was pretty up there, but we have a tendency to slow down when we get tired. We have to learn to push through that”.

In the final period, the Bobcats would continue to increase their lead behind the inside play of Prestly and Lauren Leonard, but it was a 3-point basket by MacKenzie Shelton that would give the Bobcats the lead 51-27.

Mendon would score the game’s final six points, but they wouldn’t matter.

The Bobcats were led by Newman’s 21 points, while the other starter would combine for 29 of the team’s remaining 30 points. Smallwood had nine, Prestly and Shelton had seven each and Leonard had six. Madison Pellow was the only other Bobcat to score as she chipped in one.

The Hornets were led by Brooke Howard and Blaec Arevalo with seven each, while Jess Doster and Heather Wright scored six apiece.

Brandywine improves to 12-1 on the season and will host Cassopolis in a Lakeland Conference match-up as they look to stay unbeaten in the conference on Friday night.

MENDON 33

Brooke Howard 1 5-12 7; Jenna Griffith 0 0-0 0; Heather Medich 1 0-0 2; Jess Doster 3 0-0 6; Blaec Arevalo 2 2-2 7; Heather Wright 2 2-2 6; Shelby Harrison 2 1-2 5. TOTALS: 13 10-18

BRANDYWINE 51

Carlie Newman 21, Morgan Antus 0 0-0 0; Mackenzie Shelton 3 0-0 7; Kelsey Prestly 1 5-10 7; Morgan Smallwood 4 0-1 9; Lauren Leonard 2 2-2 6; Madison Pellow 0 1-2 1; Sranda Lary 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 17 12-24 51

Mendon 4 15 23 33

Brandywine 10 25 44 51

3-point baskets: Mendon 1 (Arevalo), Brandywine 5 (Newman 3, Shelton, Smallwood). Total fouls: Mendon 18, Brandywine 19. Fouled out: None. Varsity record: Brandywine 12-1