GRANVILLE, Ohio – Denison's Shaina Kaiser scored the game-winning layup with 1:02 left in the game to lead the Big Red over Allegheny 57-55 in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) women's basketball action on Saturday.

Christina Myers scored a team-high 17 points, going 8-for-10 from the charity stripe to help Denison (13-4, 5-3 NCAC) erase a 12-point halftime deficit and collect the come-back conference victory.  Emilie Simone led the Gators (6-10, 3-4 NCAC) with 18 points and 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.

Trailing 35-23 after shooting 21 percent in the first half, the Big Red clamped down on the defense in the second half to get them out of the rut.  Denison used a 12-5 spurt in the first five minutes of the second stanza which eventually turned into a 23-11 run at the 8:53 mark that made it a 46-all game.

With the score tied, Simone made a jumper in the paint but Myers answered back with a layup to even it once again. There were three more ties down the stretch with the hosts taking their first lead since the 14:33 mark of the first half at 52-51.

Laura Magnelli hit a free throw and then a jumper for a quick 53-52 lead. Myers also made one from the charity stripe at 53-all and Serafina Nuzzo drained her second of two baskets on the game for a two-point edge with 5:39 left.

Freshman Daryl Ford got the equalizer and the last bucket for Allegheny with 4:48 showing on the clock. Neither team would find the end of the net for the next four minutes.

Kaiser stopped the scoring draught with what proved to be the game-winning layup at the 1:02 mark for a 57-55 final. The Gators only had one try to send the game into overtime, but Lauren Donahoe's jumper was no good with 54 seconds remaining.

The first half was a different story for Allegheny. The Gators shot 46.7 percent from the floor and held Denison to just 23 points while building a 12-point lead.

Down 7-4, Allegheny blanked the Big Red 13-0 over the next four and a half minutes to take a double-digit lead at 17-7. Five different players scored during the run, with a three-pointer coming from Brittany Bell and four points by Jill Gregory.

The Gators kept a comfortable lead throughout the half and took a 35-21 advantage off back-to-back baskets from Simone with 1:19 before intermission.

Allegheny finished the game shooting 43.1 percent from the field, despite only knocking in eight field goals in the second half. Gregory was also in double figures for the Gators with 11 points and eight boards.

Allegheny returns to action on Wednesday against Oberlin. Game time is 6 p.m.