MEADVILLE, Pa.— The Allegheny College women's basketball team went back-and-forth with Ohio Wesleyan University on Senior Day but were ultimately unable to overcome a late Battling Bishops run as they fell 80-68 Saturday (Feb. 18) in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) action.
The Senior Day battle featured 10 ties and 14 lead changes.
The teams were evenly matched early on, finding themselves tied at six five minutes in. A three by
Emily Smith put the Gators in front 9-6. Less than a minute later, Smith hit another three to extend the lead to six. The Battling Bishops responded by hitting back-to-back threes of their own to tie it up with two minutes to play in the opening 10 minutes. The last two minutes featured high paced action. The Gators led by as much as four but the Battling Bishops made up some ground late though Allegheny led 20-19 heading into the second.
The Gators offense shot well from the floor in the first, hitting eight-of-13 shots (61.5%).
The Battling Bishops scored the first points of the second to take a 21-20 lead but Smith hit her third three of the half to put the Gators back in front, 23-21. Ohio Wesleyan answered Smith's three with a 5-0 run to move in front. The Gators brought the score within one, 26-25, before the Battling Bishops pushed the lead to 32-25.
Trailing 34-27 with just under four to play in the half, the Gators made a big push. Highlighted by a pair of threes from Smith and six points from
Maia Joiner, the Gators closed the gap to 40-39 in the final minute. With 20 seconds left,
Jazmen Moore hit a layup to put the Gators on top 41-40 at the half.
Smith had a terrific first half, hitting all five of her three point attempts to tally 15 points, while also grabbing three rebounds. Senior
Meaghan Wilby along with
Kaylah Pinkney and Joiner had six points apiece. Wilby and
Amanda Beebe had three rebounds each.
The Gators finished the half shooting 51.6% (16-of-31) from the floor, including six-of-10 from international waters. They also owned an 18-15 advantage on the boards.
Similar to the start of the game, the teams traded baskets early on in the third quarter. After Allegheny called a timeout leading 47-45 midway through, the Battling Bishops went on a 6-0 run to gain the lead. After a layup by Ohio Wesleyan, the Gators went on a 4-0 run with baskets by
Madison Caufield and Wilby to tie the game at 53. A three by the Battling Bishops put them in front 56-53 but the Gators outscored them 6-2 in the final two minutes of the quarter to take a 59-58 lead into the fourth.
In the third, the Gators shot 52.1% (nine-of-17) from the field.
The Battling Bishops struck first in the fourth to regain the lead, 60-59.
Zoe Soilis responded with a jumper but Ohio Wesleyan converted a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession to take the lead back. The feverous pace of play continued as Joiner had a pair of free throws to put the Gators on top, 63-62 with eight minutes to play. After taking a 65-63 lead, the Battling Bishops called a timeout with six-and-a-half remaining in the game.
Following the timeout, Olivia Barley hit a jumper to tie the game at 65 but the Battling Bishops went on an 8-2 run to gain the momentum.
In an attempt to halt the momentum, the Gators called a timeout with under two minutes to play, trailing 75-68. However, the Battling Bishops continued to stifle the Gator offense as they secured the win in the closing minutes.
Smith led the Gator offense with 15 points. On her senior day, Wilby netted 12 points and a team-high six rebounds. She was six-of-nine from the floor. Barkley, Pinkney and Joiner had eight points apiece. Beebe finished with four assists and four rebounds to go with a pair of points. Caufield was second on the team with five rebounds to go with four points and two steals. Soilis had five points with a pair of assists.
The Gators finished the game shooting 44.4% (28-of-63) from the floor and 31.6% (six-of-19) from three. Of the Gators 68 points, 35 came off the bench. The Battling Bishops edged the Gators in rebounds, 40-38.
