RICHMOND, Ind. – Earlham women's basketball team shot 56 percent from the floor and held a 38-22 rebounding advantage to defeat Allegheny 75-69 in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) action on Friday night.

Nikki Darrett posted15 points and nine rebounds, while Michelle Miranda was perfect all across the board going 4-for-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from the line to help the Quakers (2-10, 1-3 NCAC) snap a 17-game losing streak against the Gators and post their first win since the 2001-02 season.

The Gators' (5-8, 2-2 NCAC) Jill Gregory led all scorers with 23 points. Brittany Bell and Emilie Simone tallied 13 points apiece.

Earlham rallied back from a nine-point deficit with a 18-2 run in the first half to hold a 33-29 lead at halftime and then fend off Allegheny in the second stanza for its first conference win of the season.

Allegheny posted an 11-1 spurt in the first 10 minutes of the game to take a 14-5 lead, behind three-pointers by Bell and Gregory.

The Quakers knocked in five of their six first-half three-pointers to turn the tables and take a 26-18 lead with 5:02 before intermission.  Simone and Gregory exchanged baskets, while Laura Magnelli hit a jumper and Gregory made a layup to pull within one at 30-29. Earlham closed out the half with its final triple by Katy Buda for a four-point lead.

With the score tied at 49-all, Simone made two jumpers and Gregory added a layup for a quick 53-49 lead. Earlham went 8-for-12 from the free –throw line two minutes to regain a 59-53 advantage. Miranda scored five straight points to give the Quakers their largest lead at 64-55.

Gregory matched Miranda with a three-pointer and layup to make it 68-66 with 1:24 left to play. Charvonne Long drained a layup and Darrett took advantage of an Allegheny turnover to give Earlham a seven-point edge with 11 ticks left.

The Gators forced 26 turnovers and shot 51.9 percent in the second half, but could not overcome the Quakers down the stretch.

Allegheny is back in action tomorrow at Wittenberg. Game time is 2 p.m.