MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny women's basketball team saw a trio of players score in double-digits as they defeated Geneva 84-77 in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action Wednesday evening (Nov. 30) in Meadville. 
 
The fast-paced opening quarter featured 11 ties and lead changes. The Gators ended the frame on a 6-0 run to take a 22-18 lead into the second. Allegheny forced nine turnovers with five steals in the quarter and owned an 18-8 rebound advantage. The Gators started the second on an 8-2 run to increase their lead to 10, 30-20. Allegheny was able to maintain that advantage the rest of the half as they led 40-35 at halftime. 
 
In the opening 20 minutes, the Gators shot 45.0% (18-40) from the floor and grabbed 33 rebounds, 10 of which were by Sarah Santicola (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area). Emily Lauer (Knox, Pa./Keystone) led all scorers with 17 points in the half.
 
Geneva cut the lead to three, 45-42, early in the third quarter. The Gators battled back as their lead peaked at nine multiple times in the quarter as they owned a 67-58 advantage heading into the final frame. A Lauer fast break layup, assisted by a long Santicola pass, gave the Gators their largest lead of the night, 69-58, minutes into the fourth. In the final minute, Geneva cut the lead to 77-74. However, the Gators converted seven free-throws with under 30 seconds to play to seal the victory.
 
Inside the Box

• Lauer led the Gators with a career-high 25 points to go with seven rebounds and four steals.
• Santicola had season-highs with a 18 point, 14 rebound double-double in addition to five assists and three blocks.
• Jess Bickart (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) was the third Gator in double-digits with a season-high 15 points while just missing a double-double with nine rebounds while also tallying three steals.
• Alexis Caldwell (Whitefish Bay, Wis./Whitefish Bay) had seven points, four rebounds and three assists.
• Bella Wier (East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora) had six points and five rebounds while Kate Leach (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) had four points and six rebounds.
• Jasmyn Fisher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) added six points.
• The Gators shot 43.2% (35-81) from the floor and owned a 61-41 rebound advantage.

News and Notes

• The Gators moved to 3-1 in PAC games this year.
• Against Geneva, Allegheny is now 9-2 all-time.
• Allegheny set season-highs in points (84), field goals (35), rebounds (61), steals (14) and assists (21). 

Up Next
The Gators remain at home Saturday (Dec. 3) for a 2 pm PAC game against Thiel. During the women's and men's games Saturday, the Gators will be sponsoring a Toy Drive in partnership with the Center for Family Services and features a chance to win AirPods.