MEADVILLE, Pa. -- Allegheny's lone senior women's basketball player Zoe Soilis (Sarver, Pa./Freeport) scored a game-high 14 points to help the Gators post a 54-43 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) upset win over Denison.

The victory was the first for the Gators over the Big Red since Allegheny upset Denison, 67-66, in overtime of the 2015-16 NCAC Tournament. Denison entered play in second place in the conference with a 10-3 record, but Allegheny improved to 9-14 overall and 5-9 in the NCAC with the victory.

Trailing by a 15-8 score after one quarter, the Gators used hot shooting and staunch defense to overtake the lead (27-22) by intermission thanks to a 19-7 advantage in the period. In the second quarter alone, Allegheny made 63.6 percent (7-of-11) attempts from the field and 80.0 percent (4-of-5) from three-point range, while holding Denison to just 13.3 percent (2-of-15) and 16.7 percent (1-of-6) from beyond-the-arc.

Each of the final two quarters saw the Gators hold a three-point edge as the eventual margin fell at 11 points.

Soilis hit on 5-of-8 shots and made a pair of triples to record her 14 points. She also contributed five rebounds and four steals. For a consecutive game, and third time this season, Zoe Youdell (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) pulled down a double-double by tallying 10 points and 11 rebounds. Rylee Donovan (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) had 10 points, eight boards and a game-high four assists and Alexis Caldwell (Whitefish Bay, Wis./Whitefish Bay) registered nine points, 10 boards, two assists and two steals. Julianna Skowron (Sewickley, Pa./Oakland Catholic) had a pair of blocks and three rebounds to go with her eight points.

Allegheny will host its final regular season home game when it welcomes Hiram at 6 p.m on Wednesday, Feb. 19.