MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny women's basketball team began their 2022-23 season at home Tuesday (Nov. 8) against Carnegie Mellon.
 
Carnegie Mellon picked up the season opening win 83-58.
 
The Tartans started out strong, taking an 11-3 lead in the first five minutes. Emily Lauer (Knox, Pa./Keystone) hit a pair of three pointers in the frame while Branygan Bianchin (Wexford, Pa./North Catholic) chipped in four points, but the Gators trailed 24-14 heading into the second quarter.
 
The Gators cut into the lead early in the second quarter when Lauer connected on a pair of field goals while Alexis Caldwell (Whitefish Bay, Wis./Whitefish Bay) hit a jumper to close the gap to 28-20. However, the Tartans lead would grow to 14, 41-27. The Gators battled back in the closing minutes of the half, cutting the lead back to ten multiple times before a late basket gave Carnegie Mellon a 45-33 halftime lead.
 
The teams traded points back-and-forth in the early portion of the third quarter, before the Tartans pulled ahead again. Allegheny fought back, going on a quick 6-0 run midway through to bring the lead down to 56-45 before Carnegie Mellon bounced back to take a 66-45 lead into the final quarter.
 
Allegheny was unable to overcome the deficit in the fourth quarter as they dropped their season opener 83-58.
 
Inside the Box

• Lauer led the Gators with 18 points while also adding four rebounds.
• Sarah Santicola (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) led the team with eight rebounds and four blocks, and was second with nine points.
• Kate Leach (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) had seven points and a pair of steals.
• Sofia Genareo (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern Central) had four points and four rebounds.
• Caldwell finished with six points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.
• Jess Bickart (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) had a team-high five assists to go with five points.
• Bianchin tallied five rebounds to go with four points.

 
News and Notes

• Nine different Gators scored in the game.
• Allegheny is now 7-18 all-time against Carnegie Mellon.

 
Up Next
The Gators travel to University Heights, Ohio Friday and Saturday (Nov. 11-12) to compete in the John Carroll University Tip-Off Tournament. Allegheny will face host John Carroll Friday at 7 pm and St. John Fisher Saturday at noon.