WAYNESBURG, Pa. – A career performance from junior Jessica Mrdjenovich and three Gators with double-doubles sparked the Gators to their third consecutive win, 92-70, over Waynesburg on Monday evening.

Mrdjenovich netted 28 points, including a 6-for-8 performance from three-point range, to surpass her previous career mark of 25, obtained against Mount Aloysius on Nov. 6, 2012.  The junior finished the evening shooting 9-of-17 from the field, tacking on two assists and two steals. 

Senior Kendall Hoffman, junior Emma Pellicano and classmate Rachel Vigliotti each scored double-doubles to help the Gators to 65 team rebounds, the highest total for the team this season to push the Gators to their second consecutive game over 90 points.  Vigliotti scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, including nine defensive boards, tacking on four assists and a steal. 

Hoffman added 14 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and three steals.  Pellicano, who earned Allegheny Athlete of the Week and North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Player of the Week accolades, followed her career performance last Tuesday with 13 points, 11 rebounds, including seven offensive boards and a steal.  Senior Marina Scarantino scored eight rebounds, adding four assists. 

The Allegheny defense shut down the Yellow Jackets from range, holding Waynesburg to 2-of-23 from outside the arc, as the Gators drilled nine three-pointers while converting 21-of-28 shots from the charity stripe.

Allegheny seemed poised to take a decisive first half advantage, but the persistent Yellow Jackets kept the Gator lead to within single-digits until the final five minutes.  A layup from Ifeyinwa Uwazie put the Gators up, 38-28, with 4:26 remaining in the half, but a 6-0, half-closing run by Waynesburg lowered the Allegheny lead to 38-34 heading into the break.

The Gators erupted in the second half, utilizing a 22-8 run to take a 60-42 advantage with 12:41 left on the clock.  Back-to-back fastbreak layups by Vigliotti and Pellicano capped the game-changing run. A 10-3 run by the Yellow Jackets pulled Waynesburg to within 11 points, Allegheny eventually built to lead to 20 points with a layup by sophomore Meaghan Wilby, giving the Gators an 85-65 lead with 2:13 left in the game. 

A three-pointer by Mrdjenovich with 1:54 left provided a proper bookend to her career night, as Allegheny continued a decisive three-game stretch to lead the Gators into NCAC play.  The Gators will next travel to Hiram, Ohio for the second time this season, re-visiting the location of the 2014 Terrier Tip-Off Classic, where the winning streak began with a 66-55 decision over Albion on Nov. 22, to take on the hosting Terriers in Allegheny's NCAC opener at 6 p.m.