Box Score Box Score

MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny women's basketball squad held the top-scoring team in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) under their season average, but the DePauw Tigers, ranked number-one in the nation in the most recent D3Hoops poll, scored early and often en route to a win over the Gators, 67-36, on Friday evening at the David V. Wise Center.

The Gators (11-9 overall, 6-5 NCAC) were led by senior forward Ann Ryan, who scored 10 points while recording five rebounds.  Freshman guard Rachel Vigliotti grabbed a career-high seven rebounds, including four on the offensive end.  Senior forward Daryl Ford scored six points to push her career point total to 990.  Ford, who averages 13.1 points per game this season, hopes to become the 13th player in program history to surpass the 1,000 point plateau on Saturday.

DePauw (21-0 overall, 12-0 NCAC) led from wire-to-wire and led by 21 with 5:35 remaining in the first half.  Ryan shot 4-of-5 from the field in the first frame, tallying six points on three consecutive possessions to keep the Gators within 20 points of the Tigers late in the first half.  DePauw entered halftime with a 39-20 lead.  The Gators grabbed seven offensive rebounds in the first, scoring 10 second-chance points. 

The Tigers shutout the Gators for the first four minutes of the second half, improving their lead to 48-20 with 16:02 remaining in the frame.  Two layups from freshman guard Jessica Mrdjenovich put the Gators on the board and a crafty jumper from sophomore guard Cecilia Siegel helped the squad cut into the DePauw lead.  However, the number-one team in the nation would remain resiliant, keeping the Gators off the offensive glass with 17 defensive rebounds.

Allegheny's defense intensified in the second half, holding the Tigers to a 1-of-9 mark from three-point range, far below their 42.5 percent season average from beyond the arc.  The Gators also forced nine DePauw turnovers.  Poor shooting from outside the arc hurt the Gators upset bid as the squad finished the game 0-16 from three-point range.  DePauw out-rebounded the Gators, 47-30.

The Gators will look to rebound on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 3 p.m. against the Wittenberg Tigers.  Prior to tip-off, the program will honor seniors Becca Bajkowski, Daryl Ford and Ann Ryan, a trio of four-year Gators playing their final season for the Blue and Gold.