MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny women's basketball team celebrated senior day with an 82-49 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) win against Franciscan Saturday (Feb. 10).
 
Before the game, the team honored their three seniors: Branygan Bianchin (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny), Sydney Watko (Ketchikan, Alaska/Pomeroy (Wash.) and Jenna Lutz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin). The team also recognized senior student manager Chris Rubino and broadcast announcer Kyle Chandler.
 
In a defensive oriented first quarter, the Gators gained a 10-7 advantage. Allegheny blocked three shots in the frame, with Sarah Santicola (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) accounting for two of them. The Gators outrebounded the Barons 14-9 as well.
 
Jess Bickart (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) hit a quick three to kick start a 7-0 run, giving Allegheny a 17-7 lead in the second. After a 6-0 run by the Barons, the Gators closed the half outscoring their counterparts 19-9, including a 9-0 run, to take a 36-22 halftime lead.
 
Bickart led Allegheny with 11 points in the opening half. Sofia Genareo (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern Central) put up seven while Santicola collected a dozen rebounds. Allegheny went nine-of-11 at the free throw line and had a 28-17 advantage in rebounds.
 
Franciscan closed the gap some early in the third with an 11-8 advantage over the first five minutes. After the media timeout, the Gators went on a fast 6-0 run with Emily Lauer (Knox, Pa./Keystone) netting four of them. After some back-and-forth play, Allegheny closed the frame on a 7-0 run, leading 57-37 heading into the fourth
 
.Allegheny slowly grew the lead early in the fourth as it reached 23 points, 65-42, before a Franciscan timeout. The lead would hit as high as 37 as the Gators closed out the senior day victory.
 
Inside the Box

• Bickart led the Gators with 23 points to go alongside nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. It marked her fourth 20+ point performance in the past seven games.
• Santicola tallied a double double with 17 rebounds and 16 points. She also blocked five shots for the eighth time this year.
• Lauer scored 16 points with a team-high five steals.
• Lutz had a career-high 10 points on senior day, knocking down a pair of three pointers. She also had three rebounds and a block.
• Genareo finished with seven points.
• Watko produced four points and two steals while Bianchin had two points, two steals and two rebounds.
• All 10 active players got on the scoreboard for Allegheny.
• The Gator bench accounted for 36 points.
• Allegheny's defense forced 24 turnovers leading to 24 points.

News and Notes

• The Gators improved to 13-10 overall and 12-6 in PAC action.
• Allegheny is now 5-0 all-time against Franciscan. 

Up Next
The Gators play their final home game of the regular season Wednesday (Feb. 14) against Saint Vincent.