MEADVILLE, Pa. -- The Allegheny women's basketball team hosted Penn State Altoona for its home opener Wednesday night (Nov. 10), picking up the win 65-58.
 
The victory marks the first for the Gators this year, and the inaugural triumph in the career of first-year head coach Kelly Muffley.
 
Emily Lauer (Knox, Pa./Keystone) led the Gators with a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double.  Alexis Caldwell (Whitefish Bay, Wisc./Whitefish Bay) ended the game with 13 points, while Chloe Rabold (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) added 11.  Both players tied Branygan Bianchin (Wexford, Pa./North Catholic) with a team-high three assists.  Jenna Manke (Freeport, Pa./Freeport) had seven points to go alongside six rebounds, while Sydney Watko (Pomeroy, Wash./Pomeroy) had six points, four rebounds and a pair of blocks.  Jenna Lutz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) was second on the squad with seven boards.
 
The Lions jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the opening quarter.  The Gators chipped away at the lead as a Rabold three-pointer put them in front, 8-5.  After Penn State Altoona regained the advantage, Rabold and Watko hit back-to-back threes as Allegheny led 14-12 after 10 minutes.  
 
Penn State Altoona recaptured the lead early in the second quarter, but never led by more than three.  In the waning minutes of the half, a Lauer free-throw, followed up with a fast-break layup, put the Gators back in front, 27-24.  Tied at 27-27 in the final 30 seconds, Lauer scored her seventh point of the quarter to put Allegheny ahead, 29-27.  
 
The Gators came out strong in the second half, going on a 6-0 run to increase their lead to eight, 35-27.  That lead expanded to as much as 17 as they owned a 54-39 lead heading into the final quarter.  
 
The gap was narrowed by the Lions in the final quarter but they were unable to overcome the Allegheny advantage as the Gators wrapped up the game.
 
For the game, the Gators shot 44.8 percent from the floor (26-58) and outrebounded Penn State Altoona, 48-39.  
 
Allegheny is back at home Saturday (Nov. 13) when it hosts Fredonia. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m.