MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny women's basketball team hosted their first game of the 2023-24 season, falling to Bethany, 79-69, in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action Tuesday (Nov. 21).
 
The teams traded baskets back-and-forth to begin the contest, with Bethany holding an 11-9 lead midway through. The Bison outpaced the Gators 12-5 down the stretch to lead 20-14 after the first.
 
The Gators started the second on a 5-0 run, with Sofia Genareo (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern Central) starting it with a three. Bethany started to pull away, but a late 7-0 run by the Gators made it a two-point game at halftime, 31-29.
 
Genareo led the team with 11 points in the opening half. Jess Bickart (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) had six rebounds in the frame as the Gators held the advantage in that category 21-18.
 
Bethany increased their lead to 10, 45-35, with just over two minutes to play in the quarter. In the final 90 seconds, the Gators outscored the Bison 5-2 to cut the advantage to 47-40 entering the fourth.
 
The Bison lead grew to 14 midway through the fourth, 58-44. The Gators would cut the lead down to eight in the final minute, but were unable to overcome the Bison advantage as they fell in their home opener.
 
Inside the Box

• Sarah Santicola (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) led the Gators with a career-high 19 points. She just missed her fifth straight double-double, finishing with nine rebounds. The sophomore also blocked five shots while assisting on three baskets.
• Genareo totaled 17 points, tying a career-high, while also grabbing seven rebounds.
• Emily Lauer (Knox, Pa./Keystone) was the third Gators in double-digits, scoring 14 with seven rebounds.
• Bickart was also just short of a double-double with a team-high 11 rebounds and nine points.
• Jasmyn Fisher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) tied a team-high with three assists.
• The Gators held a 44-35 rebounding edge.

News and Notes

• The Gators are now 8-4 all-time against Bethany. 

Up Next
The Gators are back in action Sunday (Nov. 26) at home against Case Western Reserve.