WASHINGTON, Pa.—The Allegheny College women's basketball team overcame a 17-point deficit to tie the game late in regulation as they collected a 96-90 overtime, nonconference win on the road at Washington & Jefferson College Monday (Nov, 20).
The 96 point total marked the most in a regular season game for the Gators since they defeated Oswego State 91-90 in double overtime on Nov. 16, 2016.
The Gators gained an early advantage as
Kaylah Pinkney scored the first five points for the Gators to give them a 5-4 lead. However, the Presidents took over the quarter from that point on, going on a 12-0 run.
Julianna Skowron broke up the run on a put back shot. Skowron then hit a jumper in the paint to cut the deficit to 16-11. The Presidents hit a three, but
Rylee Donovan matched it on their next trip down the floor. In the closing seconds of the quarter, the Presidents hit another three to take a 22-14 lead into the second.
The Presidents scored the first five points in the second before Skowron got the Gators on the board in the quarter. The W&J lead grew to 30-18 before Skowron scored her tenth point of the half, followed by a Donovan three to cut the lead to 30-23. However, the Presidents closed the half on a 14-5 to own a 44-29 lead at the break.
Skowron led the Gators with 10 points on five-of-seven shooting with six rebounds. Donovan added eight points and three assists.
The Gators cut into the President lead early in the third quarter, as a
Zoe Soilis jumper dropped the lead to 54-42 midway through the quarter. W&J regained their footing as they pushed their lead back up to 16, 60-44. The Gators would not go away as they strung together a 7-0 run to bring the lead to single digits at 60-51. The Presidents ended the run with a pair of three-throws. After Donovan hit her own pair of free-throws, the Presidents hit a late three to take a 65-53 lead into the final frame.
The lead grew to 15 before a flurry of baskets on both sides. Two straight
Delaney Arbore baskets, followed by a Donovan three cut the lead to 76-68. Arbore hit another jumper which cut the lead to just six, 76-70, with 5:27 to go. The Presidents broke up the run with a basket but Donovan quickly answered with a lay-up. Arbore then hit a pair of threes to tie it at 78, leading to a W&J timeout with 1:56 to play.
Neither team were able to hit shots, leading to another W&J timeout with 18 seconds remaining. The Gators drew a charge to regain possession with five seconds left, however, the Donovan three at the buzzer went in and out as the game went into overtime.
Soilis scored the opening basket of the extra session after the Gators won the opening tip-off. After a missed President shot, Arbore hit a three to give the Gators a five-point lead. After another missed W&J shot, Donovan converted a pair of rebounds to make it 85-78.
The Presidents did not back down, as they cut the lead to 86-81 with a minute to play. A free-throw brought the lead to four, but Soilis converted a pair of free-throws to push the lead back to 88-82. After a President basket, Donovan went to the line, hitting both shots. With 23 seconds left, W&J hit a three to cut the lead to 90-87.
Donovan was fouled after the inbound pass and hit both attempts. After a missed W&J sot, Soilis hit a pair of free-throws as they Gators secured the 96-90 comeback victory.
Donovan led the Gators with her most prolific offensive output of the year, finishing with a team-high 29 points. She also added 12 rebounds, eight assists, two steals and two blocks to nearly miss a triple-double. Arbore hit 11-of-22 shots to end the game with 28 points. Soilis had her first double-digit game of the season as she went for a career-high 19 points with five rebounds and four steals. Both Soilis and Donovan went 11-of-12 from the free-throw line. Skowron was the fourth Gator to finish in double-digit points with 12 to go alongside seven rebounds. Pinkney had five points and four rebounds while
Mari Casale had six rebounds.
The Gators shot 45.6% from the field (31-of-68). They were impressive at the free-throw line, hitting 25-of-30 attempts. They also owned a 44-39 advantage in rebounds.
W&J was led by 23 points by Danielle Parker and 22 points from Lauren Gilbert.
The Gators are back at home Saturday (Nov. 24) when they play host to St. Vincent College at 2 p.m.
