SPRINGFIELD, Ohio—The Allegheny College women's basketball team opened up North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play with a 77-72 road win against Wittenberg University Friday night (Dec. 1).
Junior
Delaney Arbore finished the game with 30 points. She converted 11-of-18 attempts, including six-of-10 from three. Her performance marked the first thirty point game by a Gator since Emma Pellicano did it at Washington & Jefferson on Nov. 25, 2014.
The Gators took an early 3-2 lead on an Arbore three, but the Tigers went on a 6-0 run to take a five point lead midway through the quarter. The Tiger lead grew to as much as eight, 14-6, before the Gators brought the lead down. Another three by Arbore, followed by a basket from
Julianna Skowron, brought the game within three at 14-11. However, Wittenberg closed the quarter on a 5-0 run to take a 19-14 lead into the second.
Allegheny scored the first five points of the second quarter on a traditional three point play from Arbore and a jumper by
Kaylah Pinkney. After a Tiger basket, Abore brought the game within two, 21-19, on another three pointer. Wittenberg answered by going on a 9-3 run to take an eight point lead once more but it was short lived. Arbore continued to light up the Tiger defense with another pair of three pointers to bring the game within one. Skowron followed up with a made jumper to tie the game at 30 with under five minutes to play in the half.
After a Wittenberg timeout, Arbore gave the Gators their first lead of the game with a layup. Shortly after,
Brooke Smith stole the ball and turned it into a layup to increase their lead to 34-30.
In the waning minutes of the half, the Gator lead grew to five as they took a 39-34 lead into the half.
Arbore finished the half with 23 points, hitting five-of-six three point attempts. She also led the Gators with four rebounds. Skowron added eight points and three rebounds. The Gators shot 46.7% (14-of-30) for the half.
The Tigers opened the third quarter on 7-0 run to take a 41-39 lead. After
Candaisy Crawford tied the game with a layup, Arbore hit her sixth three to give the Gators a 44-41 lead. Wittenberg slowly brought the game back to a tie at 50 with just over 90 seconds to play in the frame. Down the stretch, the teams traded baskets as they found themselves tied at 55 heading into the fourth.
The Gators struck first in the fourth as Crawford converted a traditional three to give the Gators a 58-55 lead. The back-and-forth play picked back up as Wittenberg made up a four point gap to tie the game at 62.
Crawford drove down the lane to give the Gators a 64-62 lead with just under six to play. After a Tiger miss, Crawford struck again to make it 66-62. With just over four minutes to play,
Madison Caufield connected on a layup while being fouled. Her made free throw on the follow up gave the Gators a 69-62 lead, forcing a Wittenberg timeout.
After the timeout, the Tigers brought the lead down to three with 90 seconds to go. After the lead was brought down to one, Caufield hit a clutch jumper from just outside the top of the key to give the Gators a 75-72 advantage with 50 seconds left.
In the final 50 seconds, the Gators held the Tigers scoreless as Crawford converted a pair of free throws to give the Gators a 77-72 NCAC win.
In addition to her 30 points, Arbore had six rebounds and three assists. Crawford also had a great offensive performance, tallying 15 points with six rebounds and two assists. She came through in the clutch, going five-of-five from the free throw line. Caufield went for 11 points and five rebounds while Skowron had 10 points and six rebounds.
Rylee Donovan finished with seven points and seven assists. For the game, the Gators shot 43.4% (29-of-67).
The Gators have a quick turnaround as they face 15
th-ranked DePauw University Saturday (Dec. 2) on the road.
