Box Score MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny women's basketball squad opened up the 2013-14 campaign by matching a historical benchmark, tying a program total with 13 three-pointers in a 93-59 win over D'Youville to close the first day of the second annual Greg Richards '08 Memorial Tip-Off Classic at the David V. Wise Center.

Sophomore Jessica Mrdjenovich spearheaded the offensive attack, hitting 4-of-8 shots from distance and ending with 16 points, adding a team-high six assists.  Fellow second year Makenzie Zidek was close behind with 13 points, while junior Kendall Hoffman and sophomore Emma Pellicano each tallied 11 points.  Sophomore Iffie Uwazie opened up her season with a team-high nine rebounds. 

Junior Marina Scarantino scored seven points, adding five assists and a pair of steals, while Uwazie and Hoffman tied for the team lead with three steals.  Uwazie added a team-high three blocks, as fellow second year Kaitlyn Fromknecht also stuffed a pair of D'Youville attempts.

"The play of our guards is going to be one of our strengths this year, and I think they did a good job coming out of the gate, " commented Allegheny head coach Kate Costanzo.  Our full-court pressure created easy turnovers and easy buckets for us and that gives us more confidence.  I thought we did a great job of finding the open teammate in transition and also in the half-court when they went zone against us; we did a good job finding our shooters."

The Gators found their offensive stride in the second half, knocking down five of nine three-point attempts in the second frame en route to the record-tying effort.  The determined Allegheny defense also procured a solid effort, forcing 24 Spartan turnovers.

Also impressive in their debut were the Allegheny first years, as freshman Aubri Caslin scored five points, adding two steals, two rebounds and an assist in 13 minutes played.  Fellow first year Jessica Aulicino grabbed five rebounds, including four defensive boards, while Morgan Dillon picked three total rebounds.

"I think when the first years came in they did a good job staying composed and rebounding, which is what they bring into the picture." Costanzo added.

The two teams played evenly throughout the first six minutes, as a pair of D'Youville free throws cut the Allegheny lead to 7-6.  Allegheny erupted for a 5-2 run after the free throws, eventually building a double-digit lead at 25-14 with 8:35 left in the first.  The Gators were able to maintain the double-digit lead, entering halftime with a 22-point, 45-23 halftime lead.  Allegheny scored 22 points off of D'Youville turnovers in the first half, adding 20 points in the paint and seven second chance points.

Sophomore Rachel Vigliotti started the second with a steal, finding Mrdjenovich for a fast break layup to set the tone for the latter half.  The Spartans would not be able to move beyond the determined Allegheny defensive effort, as the Gators kept the lead above 25 points for the remainder of the second half. 

Allegheny's 93 points is the highest total for the program since Dec. 18, 2010, when the Gators were able to pick up a hard-fought, 103-100 overtime win over Defiance College in the opening round of the Pro Rehab-Hubbard Company Tournament in Defiance, Ohio.

The Gators will move on to face Fredonia State, a member of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) who upended Marietta College in a fast-paced, 60-58 thriller to open the women's portion of the 2013 Greg Richards '08 Memorial Tip-Off Classic.  Allegheny will tip-off against the Blue Devils at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16.