MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny women's basketball team returned to the court Tuesday (Jan. 3), defeating Chatham, 79-71, in a back-and-forth Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game in Meadville.
 
The Cougars jumped out to a 13-6 lead midway through the first quarter. The Gators pushed back as a Bella Wier (East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora) three-pointer pulled them within three, 16-13. A Sarah Santicola (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) lay-up brought the game within a point with a minute to go. In the waning seconds, a floater off the top of the glass by Jasmyn Fisher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) gave Allegheny a 17-16 lead after 10 minutes of play. 
 
The second quarter went back-and-forth with nine lead changes and five tied scores. Emily Lauer (Knox, Pa./Keystone) and Sofia Genareo (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern Central) converted traditional three-point plays in the frame. In the final two minutes, Chatham went on a 7-2 run as they took a 39-34 lead into halftime.
 
The Gators fought back in the third quarter, bringing the score within one point multiple times on baskets by Lauer, Kate Leach (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and Jess Bickart (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley). Lauer eventually put the Gators back in front, 52-51, with a minute remaining in the frame. Alexis Caldwell (Whitefish Bay, Wis./Whitefish Bay) extended the lead to 54-51 but a half-court shot by Chatham tied it up heading into the final quarter. 
 
The back-and-forth continued into the fourth quarter before the Gators pulled ahead, 64-57, following four straight points by Genareo. The Cougars cut the lead down to one, 64-63, before a 6-0 Gator run pushed them back ahead. In the final minutes of the game, the Gator defense held tough as they secured the conference victory.
 
Inside the Box

• Lauer led the Gators with 25 points, going 8-of-16 from the floor and 9-of-11 from the free-throw line. She also had seven rebounds and three assists.
• Genareo finished with 11 points and three rebounds.
• Bickart recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds while also leading the team with four assists.
• Sarah Santicola (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) added eight points and seven rebounds while Caldwell had seven points and six rebounds.
• The Gators shot 47.6% (30-of-63) from the floor and 81% (17-of-21) from the free-throw line.
• Allegheny also had a 47-33 rebounding edge.

News and Notes

• Allegheny moves to 5-3 in PAC play.
• The Gators are now 3-0 all-time against Chatham. 

Up Next
The Gators remain in Meadville Saturday (Jan. 7) for a 2 pm PAC game against Grove City.