ALFRED, N.Y.- The Allegheny College women's basketball team topped Alfred University 75-65 Monday evening (Dec. 12) on the road for a nonconfence victory.
The Gator offense got off to a fast start, accumulating a 9-4 lead over the first three-and-a-half minutes. After Saxons pulled within two, 10-8, the Gators orchestrated an 11-2 run to take a 21-10 lead with three minutes to play in the quarter. The Saxons cut the gap to 21-13 in the final minutes of the quarter.
The momentum from the end of the first quarter carried over for the Saxons as they went on a 12-0 run over the first six minutes of the second to take a 25-21 lead. The Gators got right back in the game, tying it at 27 with a minute to play in the half. After a free throw by the Saxons,
Maria DiDonato converted a traditional three point play to give the Gators a 30-28 lead at the break.
DiDonato led the Gators with eight points in the opening half while
Angela Martelli had six.Â
Zoe Soilis and
Maia Joiner had six rebounds apiece.Â
Similar to the first quarter, the Gators got off to a quick start. After the Saxons tied it at 30, the Gators went on a 6-0 run. The Gator lead grew to seven before the Saxons battled back to take a 46-45 lead. The teams traded baskets late in the quarter as Alfred owned a 49-48 lead heading into the fourth.
The Saxons extended their lead to three before a pair of layups by
Olivia Barkley gave the Gators a 52-51 lead. A third straight Barkley layup, followed by a Soilis bucket pushed the lead to five, 56-51, with eight minutes to play. The teams exchanged scoring possessions before the Saxons called a timeout with the Gators leading by six, 62-56.
The timeout failed to halt the Gators momentum as they pushed their lead to 10, 68-58, minutes later. The Saxons tried to make up the gap by fouling but the Gators were true at the line in the final minutes to secure the nonconference win.
Barkley led the Gator offense on the night with 23 points, hitting nine-of-12 shots from the floor. In addition to her offensive prowess, Barkley grabbed six rebounds. Soilis had a big all-around game, finishing with 19 points on seven-of-14 shooting and a team-high nine rebounds. DiDonato also finished in double figures, netting 12 points.Â
Delaney Arbore tallied seven points while leading the team with seven assists and four steals.Â
Joiner ended the game with seven rebounds.Â
Madison Caufield had seven five while Martelli and
Sadie Longo had four apiece.
The Gators had one of their best shooting performances of the season, hitting 29-of-64 shots (45.3%). Thirty-four points came in the paint. Defensively, the Gators forced 16 turnovers. On the boards, the Gators outrebounded the Saxons 46-37.
Allegheny is back in action competing at the Music City Classic Dec. 29-30 against Westfield State and Carthage.
