MEADVILLE, Pa.-- The Allegheny College women's basketball team dropped a nonconference contest to Washington and Jefferson College 78-61 Saturday (Nov. 25) in Meadville.

The Gators opened the game on a 6-2 run but the Presidents fought back to tie the game at 12 midway through.  After tying the game, Washington and Jefferson went on a 10-0 to take a 22-14 lead into the second.
 
The Presidents maintained their lead throughout the second quarter but the Gators made a late push.  Trailing 38-29 with 1:25 to play, the Gators went on an 8-2 run.  Candaisy Crawford hit a pair of deep threes, followed by a Delaney Arbore jumper as Allegheny cut the lead to 40-37 entering the break.
 
Arbore led the Gators with 10 points in the opening half.  Crawford finished the half with eight points while Madison Caufield had six.  Kaylah Pinkney and Julianna Skowron had five points each. 
 
The Presidents controlled most of the third, increasing their lead to 55-40.  The Gators pushed back late in the quarter once again.  Five quick points by Caufield brought forced a W&J timeout.  On the next Gator possession, Rylee Donovan hit a three to bring the score to 57-50.  Pinkney then hit a jumper in the paint to bring the lead to five.  The Gators forced a turnover as the Presidents brought the ball up, leading to a fast break layup by Arbore to bring the score to 57-54 heading into the fourth.
 
The fourth quarter belonged the Presidents though as they held the Gators to just seven points to pick up the nonconference win.
 
Arbore finished the game with 15 points and four rebounds.  Caufield ended with 13 points and five rebounds on four-of-five shooting.  Zoe Soilis tallied eight points and a team-high seven rebounds while Pinkney had seven points and six rebounds.  Skowron finished with five points and five rebounds.  Rylee Donovan had a season-high seven assists.
 
For the game, the Gators shot 31.3% (21-of-67).  The Presidents owned a 51-40 advantage in rebounds.
 
The Gators open up North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play Friday (Dec. 1) when they travel to Wittenberg University for a 7 p.m. game.