MEADVILLE, Pa.-- The Allegheny women's basketball team returned to Meadville Saturday (Jan. 29) as it played host to Ohio Wesleyan in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play.

The Gators fell to the Battling Bishops 61-53.

Emily Lauer (Knox, Pa./Keystone) finished the game with a team-high 18 points to go alongside seven rebounds and three steals. Alexis Caldwell (Whitefish Bay, Wis./Whitefish Bay) tallied 13 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Chloe Rabold (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) also finished in double-digits with 10 points. Sydney Watko (Pomeroy, Wash./Pomeroy) had a team-high nine rebounds and four assists.  

Ohio Wesleyan took the initial lead, but the Gators strung together an 11-2 run to take a 16-11 run halfway through the opening quarter. The Battling Bishops narrowed the gap some, but the Gators maintained an 18-15 lead heading into the second.  
Allegheny kept their lead in the second though the score remained close. In the closing minutes, however, the Gators outpaced the Battling Bishops with a 7-0 run to take a 36-29 lead into the break.  

In the opening half, the Gators shot 50 percent (11-22) in the opening half, including 6-9 from three.  

Ohio Wesleyan closed the gap in a defensive-minded third quarter, cutting the Allegheny advantage to three, 46-43, heading into the final frame.

In the final period, the Battling Bishops took the lead at 52-50 about four minutes in. Ohio Wesleyan maintained their lead the rest of the way while limiting the Gator offense to secure the win.

The Gators remain at home Sunday (Jan. 30) when they play host to 14th-ranked DePauw. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 pm.