MEADVILLE, Pa.—A sharp-shooting first half from the host institution proved too much for the Gators to overcome, as despite 24 forced turnovers by the Allegheny defense, the Gators dropped an 81-51 decision to the Carnegie Mellon Tartans on Wednesday evening at Skibo Gymnasium.

Gator first year Amanda Beebe led the squad with a team- and season-high 10 points, as junior Emma Pellicano scored nine.  First year guard Madison Caufield went 3-for-7 from the field, ending the game with seven points, while junior Rachel Vigliotti led the team with five rebounds. 

Beebe also led the squad with two steals, as Vigliotti scored a team-high four assists on the evening.  Senior Kendall Hoffman and junior Jessica Mrdjenovich added six points apiece.

A second half run by Allegheny was sparked by 24 turnovers by the Tartans, including seven Allegheny steals.  Allegheny fell victim to an incredibly productive offensive night by the Tartans, who ended the game shooting 50.8 percent from the floor and 46.2 percent from three-point range, also tacking on a 50-30 rebounding advantage.  Carnegie Mellon scored 38 total points in the paint.

The Tartans dropped 46 points on the Gators in the opening half, shooting 18-of-31 as Allegheny shot .135 from the field in the opening stanza.  Carnegie Mellon gained a significant advantage in the paint, outscoring Allegheny, 20-6 in the lane while tacking on eight second-chance points. 

The Gators kept the defensive pressure seen throughout the weekend intact, forcing 10 Carnegie Mellon turnovers in the first half, but a 34-13 Tartan rebounding advantage helped Carnegie Mellon to the first half offensive outburst.

Allegheny started to attack the paint in the second half, as a layup from Pellicano and a traditional three-point play from Vigliotti helped the squad to two easy buckets.  Trailing by 31 points entering the half, the squad erupted for an 18-3 run over the first 4:26 of the second half, capped by a three-pointer by Beebe that brought the Blue and Gold to within 16 points.

The Gators' first year contingent started to come alive in the second, as both Beebe and Caufield began to knock down shots in the second half to bring the deficit to 62-41 with 11:14 left.  Allegheny also improved from three-point range, finishing the second half hitting five shots from beyond the arc.

Carnegie Mellon used a 17-9 run over the remainder of the contest to hand the Gators their first loss of the 2014-15 campaign.

Next up, the Gators will travel to Hiram, Ohio for the 2014 Terrier Tip-Off Classic.  The squad will first play Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAA) member Calvin College on Friday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. before battling Albion at 1 p.m. the following day.