MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny women's basketball team overcame a first half deficit with a big second half as they defeated Thiel 73-56 Wednesday night (Nov. 21) in their 2024-25 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) opener.
 
In the second half, the Gators outpaced the Tomcats 39-16.
 
Thiel opened the game on a 9-0 run before the Gators scored six straight to cut the deficit to three points. The two teams continued to trade runs back-and-forth in the opening 10 minutes as the Tomcats owned a 19-13 lead heading into the second.
 
In the second, Thiel's lead gradually grew to nine points, 38-29, with two minutes to play. The Gators made up some ground but trailed 40-34 at the half.
 
Bella Antonacci (Indiana, Pa./Indiana Area) led the team with 17 points in the opening half, hitting five three pointers. Sarah Santicola (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) had four points and four blocks while Analyse Rios (Orlando, Fla./Timber Creek) had six points. The Gators shot 40% (14-35) from the field and had a 22-18 advantage in rebounding. 
 
The Gators came out firing in the second half, starting the third quarter on a 16-2 lead to push ahead, 50-42. Antonacci had five points in the run, including her sixth three pointer. Santicola added four points. The Tomcats cut into the lead some, but Allegheny outgained them 17-8 in the frame to lead 51-48.
 
Allegheny continued to control the momentum in the fourth quarter as they scored the first 19 points of the frame. Emily Lauer (Knox, Pa./Keystone) scored nine of those points while Rios had five. They held the Tomcats off the board until there was just over three minutes left in the game as the Gators started PAC play with a win for the second straight year.
 
Inside the Box

• Antonacci led the Gators with a season-high 24 points, knocking down six three pointers. She also had a team-high five assists with six rebounds
• Rios produced a season-high 13 points with three assists and three rebounds.
• Santicola scored 11 points with seven rebounds and a season-high five blocks.
• Lauer was the fourth Gator in double figures, scoring 10 points with seven rebounds.
• Ava Kobus (Pittsburgh, Pa./Norwin) had a team-high eight rebounds with five points.
• Sofia Genareo (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern Central) and Jess Bickart (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) had five rebounds each.
• The Gators shot 37.5% from the floor (27-72) while hitting a season-high nine three pointers.
• Allegheny led in rebounds by a 52-41 margin. 

News and Notes

• Allegheny is now 26-9 all-time against Thiel.
• Antonacci's six three pointers is tied for fourth all-time in program history and was one shy of the school record.
• Pascale Olczak (Plum, Pa./Plum) and Bella Wilson (Middletown, Md./Saint John's Catholic Prep) made their collegiate debuts. 

Up Next
The Gators host Chatham in PAC play at home Saturday.