ANGOLA, Ind. -- The Allegheny College women's basketball team closed the two-day Cameron Hospital Classic with a 77-65 loss to No. 21/23 nationally-ranked Trine University at the MTI Center on Saturday.

The Gators (0-4) fell behind early but battled back on multiple occasions against the nationally-ranked Thunder (3-0). In the first quarter, Trine led by as many as 12, but Allegheny closed the gap to just two points, 20-18, inside the last minute of the period. That included back-to-back 3-pointers from Bella Antonacci (Indiana, Pa./ Indiana Area) and Analyse Rios (Orlando, Fla./Timber Creek) that reduced a 20-11 deficit to 20-17 in less than a minute.

In the second quarter, Emily Lauer (Knox, Pa./Keystone), Ava Kobus (Pittsburgh, Pa./Norwin), and Sarah Santicola (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) combined for six consecutive points to bring the Gators within three points, 31-28, with less than two minutes left before halftime. However, Trine ended the half on a 9-0 run and carried a 40-28 lead into the locker room.

Down by as many as 13 in the second half, Allegheny once again came within single digits of the Trine lead in the fourth. An Antonacci and-one and Lauer 3-pointer in the first 65 seconds of the fourth quarter had Allegheny within five points at 60-55. Later in the period, Lauer sparked a 6-0 run with a steal and score, which had the Gators within six points at 71-65.

However, the Blue and Gold went cold in the last three minutes. Allegheny could not complete the comeback after shooting 0-for-6 from the floor with three turnovers down the stretch.

Inside the Box Score

• Allegheny shot 21-of-49 for a 42.9 field-goal percentage.
• The Gators had success from the foul line with 18 makes on 22 tries (81.8%).
• On the other hand, Trine shot just 39.7% (27-of-68) overall and 63.6% (12-of-22) from the line.
• Allegheny won the battle on the board with a plus-three rebound margin (39-to-36).
• Turnovers proved costly, as the Gators committed more than twice as many, which allowed the Thunder to score 26 points off turnovers.
• Santicola scored a game-high 22 points with six rebounds and three steals.
• Lauer added 18 points, three steals, and two assists.
• Antonacci led all Gators with five assists and eight rebounds while scoring 12 points.
• Three Thunder players scored in double figures, led by Erin Sherwood, who had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

News and Notes

• Saturday's matchup was the first-ever between Allegheny and Trine.
• Trine was the first nationally-ranked team the Gators have faced since battling No. 17/17 St. John Fisher University on November 12, 2022.
• Santicola's 22 points and 80.0 field-goal percentage (8-of-10) were both season-highs.
• Lauer's 18 points were also a single-high.
• In her fourth collegiate game, Antonacci recorded double-digit points for the first time as a Gator.

Up Next
Allegheny begins Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play on Wednesday, November 20, with a 5:30 p.m. contest at Thiel College.