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MEADVILLE, Pa. – Despite an impressive second half performance, a determined Allegheny effort fell short against reigning NCAA Division III National Champion DePauw, 73-56, in a North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) contest on Friday evening at the David V. Wise Center.

The Gators (7-5 overall, 1-2 NCAC) out-scored the Tigers (11-0 overall, 2-0 NCAC) 33-26 in the second half, shooting 42.9 percent from the field in the latter frame compared to DePauw's 29.0 percent.  Allegheny also out-rebounded DePauw in the second, 26-21.  DePauw entered Friday's contest as the No. 1 team in Division as ranked by both D3Hoops.com and USA Today national polls.

Sophomore Emma Pellicano posted her third double-double of the season with a team-high 16 points and 10 boards. Classmate Iffie Uwazie made an impact in the paint, grabbing seven rebounds, including four offensive boards, while scoring four points.  Freshman Meaghan Wilby shot 3-of-7 from the floor to record seven points and four rebounds, adding an assist.

Junior Marina Scarantino collected five rebounds, adding a pair of assists and a steal.  Sophomore Rachel Vigliotti scored nine points while recording a team-high three assists.  Junior Kendall Hoffman and Uwazie tied for the team lead with two steals.  Allegheny recorded its highest rebounding output since a Dec. 1 contest against Muskingum, finishing with 43 total rebounds.

Vigliotti scored the game's first basket on Allegheny's opening possession, before a second jumper by sophomore Makenzie Zidek kept Allegheny ahead early.  DePauw responded with a 16-2 run, forcing a pair of Allegheny turnovers while shooting 6-of-8 from the field to take a 16-6 lead with 12:57 remaining in the first half. 

The Tigers increased their lead to 21 with 3:46 left in the half, increasing the gap to a game-high 28 after a three-point play from DePauw senior Alison Stephens.  DePauw would take a 46-23 lead into the halftime break after Wilby scored a layup and tacked on a free-throw in the final minute.

In the second half, Allegheny started to rally under the 10-minute mark, using a 12-3 run down 59-39 to cut the lead to 12.  During the run, the Gators out-rebounded DePauw, 8-6, as Vigliotti and Pellicano were able to score off of offensive rebounds.  A three-pointer from Pellicano with 1:36 remaining brought the Gators to within 11, but it was the last basket Allegheny would make as the Tigers scored on their next four possessions to clinch the victory.

The Gators will return to the David V. Wise Center on Saturday, Jan. 4 to battle NCAC opponent Wittenberg, closing out a four-game homestand that started on Dec. 19 against Saint Vincent.  Allegheny and Wittenberg will tip-off in Meadville at 4 p.m.