OBERLIN, Ohio – All five Allegheny starters finished in double-digits, but a late charge by the Oberlin Yeowomen edged the Gators, 75-72, in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) action on Wednesday night at Phillips Gym.

Junior Jessica Mrdjenovich netted a team-high 18 points for the Blue and Gold, shooting 8-of-14 for the Gators.  Allegheny scored 48 points in the paint, including 14 second chance points and 17 points off of 17 Oberlin turnovers, aided by a season-high four steals from junior Ifeyinwa Uwazie.

Senior Marina Scarantino shot 3-of-8 from distance, finishing with 15 points and eight rebounds.  Classmate Kendall Hoffman netted 12 points and eight boards, tacking on three assists, a block and three steals.  Junior Rachel Vigliotti scored a team-high seven assists, tacking on 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field.  Classmate Emma Pellicano added 10 points, five boards and two assists.

Oberlin used an early, 9-3 run built a seven-point lead roughly five minutes into the contest, but Allegheny responded by whittling into the Yeowomen lead, taking the lead on a pair of Pellicano layups with 8:07 remaining.  A back-and-forth opening frame that featured eight ties and six lead changes, Oberlin took the halftime lead on a three-pointer by Carolina Hamilton with 13 seconds on the clock, shaking off a Hoffman free-throw to take a 35-33 lead into the break.

The Allegheny guards erupted to start the second half, as Scarantino and Mrdjenovich buried shots from beyond the arc to put the Gators ahead, 41-39, with 17:32 left in the second.  However, Oberlin held the Gators from building a substantial lead, eventually regaining the advantage with 10:24 remaining in the latter half. 

The Yeowomen and Gators traded lead s for the next eight minutes until a fast break layup by Uwazie sent Allegheny to a 70-68 lead.  Oberlin responded by snagging the lead for good, holding the Gators to one basket over the final three minutes of the contest to seal the victory.

Allegheny will look to rebound on Saturday as the Gators welcome Ohio Wesleyan for a 1 p.m. clash.  Prior to the game, Allegheny will honor seniors Hoffman and Scarantino.