MEADVILLE, Pa. -- Junior
Brooke Smith (New Kensington, Pa./Burrell) hit the game-winning layup with 1.9 seconds remaining as the Gators kicked off the 2019 Greg Richards '08 Memorial Classic with a 58-56 nonconference win over Goucher.
Allegheny earned the first two points of the game, as
Julianna Skowron (Sewickley, Pa./Oakland Catholic) netted a layup in the paint. They would then hold that lead until the fourth quarter, when Goucher erased an eight-point deficit to tie the game at 51.
Chloe Rabold (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) put the Gators in front again with two more points in the paint, but Goucher again tied the game. The back and forth battle would continue until there were six seconds left, the game deadlocked at 56. The Gators quickly threw the ball inbounds, and senior guard
Zoe Soilis (Sarver, Pa./Freeport) launched the pass from half court into the paint to a sprinting Smith, who sunk the game-winning layup, with 1.9 seconds on the clock.
Soilis and Skowron led the team with 13 points apiece. Soilis also grabbed 10 boards, earning her first career double-double, as she also drained three triples, a team-high, and added five assists. Skowron shot 50% from the floor (6-of-12) and had nine rebounds, while tying a career-high with three blocks.
Alexis Caldwell (Whitefish Bay, Wis./Whitefish Bay) tied for the team lead in assists with five, and also scored eight points on 4-of-6 shooting. Smith added nine points on an effective 3-of-4 from the floor and tallied two three-pointers.
The Gators held the advantage in the paint, 28-24, and on the glass, offensively and defensively, with 11 and 30 boards, respectively, compared to 28 rebounds for Gophers. Allegheny drained seven triples compared to three for Goucher.Â
Allegheny will host Grove City to close out the Richards Classic at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16.
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