- Posted in All University
- Category: AthleticsCampus News
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA - As Bryanna Brown (New York, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin) lay in her suite just a few months after transferring to Lincoln University, she was inspired to give herself a mammogram.
It proved to be beneficial as she found a small knot in her left breast.
From there Brown went to see the trainers, who then scheduled a biopsy in which a breast calcification was discovered and Brown was faced with a major decision – have the calcification removed after the season, risk it getting bigger and more worrisome or have it removed immediately and risk missing the entire season.
"I decided to play four games," said Brown. "After that, it was still bothering me knowing that it was still there and that it could grow. My mom and I decided to remove it.
"It was a hard decision knowing that the team was going through a lot of injuries. I knew my role was huge at the time, but I knew my teammates would support my decision. I didn't want to redshirt, but I knew it was the best thing for my future."
The guard from New York also knew she was the support of her coaching staff and teammates.
"We surrounded her with much love and support, was right by her side every step of the way," said former Lincoln Women's Basketball Coach Darrell Mosley. "She's such a tough kid that you wouldn't have known she was even going through anything. She stayed committed to the team and attended every practice and game to support her teammates. She is the ideal complete player that every coach dreams to have a part of their program. I am extremely proud of Bryanna and how she has grown on and off the court."
Brown scored a season-high 13 points in the December 9th game against Washington Adventist, and three days later, the calcification lump was removed embarking her on the road to recovery. She finished that season averaging 8.8 points and 3.3 rebounds.
While Brown didn't return for the 2018-19 season, she played a pivotal role as the 2019-20 team set numerous program records, including most wins in a season. On a team with dynamic guards Kwanza Murray and DeAshia Young, Brown started 24 of 29 games and was third on the team in scoring with 7.4 points.
However, that team stumbled in the first round of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament and Brown has been on a quest to erase that taste out of her mouth.
"I know its cliché to say, but we have unfinished business," said Brown. "We have a lot to prove and winning a CIAA championship is our number one goal."
It's a mantra that was delayed another year due to the CIAA canceling last season due to COVID, and then a coaching change over the summer threw a potential monkey wrench into the equation. So now Brown is back for her sixth collegiate season, fourth at Lincoln, as the undisputed leader and driving force behind a potential tournament run.
With three regular-season games remaining, the Lions are tied for first place in the CIAA's North Division with Brown serving as the conference's leading scorer with 16.7 points per game. She is adding 5.5 rebounds with 44 assists and 32 steals.
"Bry Brown has been a shining example of what you want your student-athletes to aspire to be," said Lincoln University Head Women's Basketball Coach Janice Washington. "She is a phenomenal student and a phenomenal athlete. She strives for greatness in everything she touches, including her GPA, her on-court tenacity, her campus involvement, and her ability to be a good teammate. Her work ethic is second to none and she has laid a solid foundation of what it takes to be a high caliber player in the CIAA."
Along the way toward one last run to a title, Brown has become a more vocal leader and has seen her confidence grow exponentially. It is just a culmination of the work she has put in to develop all aspects of her game.
It's the same work ethic that has powered her to a 3.95-grade point average, a two-time Church Mutual honoree, and the CIAA Lowe's Senior CLASS award. She will also be Lincoln's representative for the NCAA Woman of the Year. Brown, who is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., has found a way to balance basketball, school, and the plethora of extracurricular activities and community service events.
"Time management is key," said Brown. "I am very organized and I don't like to procrastinate. I definitely have fun and socialize, but being organized definitely goes a long way."
Following the completion of her collegiate basketball career, Brown wants to make a run at playing professional overseas. However, her ultimate goal is to use her finance degree to benefit her community by teaching the importance of financial literacy.
In the meantime, she has a crucial message.
"Definitely advise females to do their breast check a week after your menstrual cycle," said Brown. "It's imperative, not only for your safety but for the future. Pass it down to the next generation. It can come out of nowhere, so expect the unexpected. Just take care of your body.
"I was grateful that I found it at the time I did," Brown continued. "I was concerned, but grateful that I got that thought put in my head. God definitely looked out."
