DELAWARE, Ohio-- A 17-2 run to close the third quarter propelled the Allegheny College women's basketball team to 53-40 win over Ohio Wesleyan University Saturday (Feb. 17) in their regular season finale.
The Gators started the game on a 6-0 run over the opening three minutes, with
Brooke Smith netting four points. The Battling Bishops fought back to bring the game within one, 6-5, but the Gators scored the final basket of the quarter off a
Delaney Arbore jumper to take an 8-5 lead into the second.
Julianna Skowron extended the Gator lead with a jumper to open the second. However, Ohio Wesleyan responded with a 6-0 run to take an 11-10 lead, forcing a Gator timeout. Following the timeout, Arbore put the Gators back in front with a jumper. The Battling Bishops regained the lead on their next shot, but Smith responded with a prompt three to give Allegheny the lead once again. Another Skowron jumper pushed the advantage up to 17-13, leading to an Ohio Wesleyan timeout. After their timeout, the Battling Bishops pulled within two points, 20-18, but a pair of late free-throws by
Rylee Donovan gave the Gators a 22-18 edge at the half.
Smith finished the half with 10 points. Arbore and Skowron added four points apiece.
Madison Caufield hauled in five rebounds. For the half, the Gators shot 32.1% (nine-of-28) from the floor.
The Battling Bishops strung together an 8-0 lead over the opening four minutes of the second half to gain a 26-22 lead. Following a timeout, the Gators regained the momentum with a 6-0 run, bringing about an Ohio Wesleyan timeout.
The timeout failed to stifle the Gators' momentum as they scored the next four points to make it a 10-0 run. After the run ended, Smith hit her third three-pointer to give the Gators their biggest lead of the game at 35-28. In the closing minute, the Gators scored five more points, including a traditional three-point play by Arbore to give them a 40-28 lead heading into the final frame.
The Gators momentum carried into the fourth as they increased their lead to 47-28 two minutes in. The Battling Bishops slowly chipped away at the lead, but never got closer than 11 as the Gators picked up the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) win, 53-40.
Arbore led the Gators with 18 points and two rebounds. Smith ended the game with a season-high 17 points as she hit a trio of threes. Skowron also finished in double figures with 10 points to go with six rebounds and a pair of blocks.
Zoe Soilis collected five rebounds, three of which were on the offensive glass. Donovan had three steals and three blocks to go with four rebounds.
The Gators ended the day shooting 41.1% (23-of-56) from the floor. Of their 53 points, 28 came in the paint. Their largest lead of the game was 19 points in the fourth quarter.
Nicole Popovich led Ohio Wesleyan with a 12 point, 12 rebound double-double.
The Gators will travel to sixth-ranked DePauw on Tuesday (Feb. 20) for a NCAC quarterfinal contest.
