MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny women's basketball team held off a late charge by Bethany as the Gators picked up a 71-60 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) victory at home Saturday (Jan. 18).
 
The Gators got out to a 5-0 opening run, started by a Sofia Genareo (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern Central) three. After a Bethany timeout, the teams traded baskets for a few minutes before the Gators outpaced the Bison 10-4 in the final five minutes to own a 20-11 lead heading into the second quarter.
 
The teams equaled each other with 11 points in the first five minutes of the second as Allegheny maintained their lead. In the final three minutes of the half, the Bison made up some ground but a buzzer beating three by Jess Bickart (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) gave the Gators an eight point lead, 40-32, at the half.
 
Emily Lauer (Knox, Pa./Keystone) had 10 points in the opening 20 minutes with seven rebounds. Bickart also produced 10 points while Sarah Santicola (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) had seven rebounds. The Gators shot 41% (16-39) in the half while holding Bethany to 24.2% (8-33). 
 
The Bison cut the lead to 40-36 with a couple of baskets to start the second half. The Gators would later answer with a 7-2 run to grow their lead to 49-39. Genareo had four points in that stretch while Bickart hit a three. Each side matched back-to-back 5-0 runs as the back-and-forth continued. Bethany scored the final five points of the frame, including a late three, to cut the deficit to 58-50 going into the final quarter.
 
The Gators lead dropped to three, 61-58, with just under three minutes to play. A tough basket by Genareo brought the lead back to five. In the final minute, Bickart and Lauer both went four-for-four from the free throw line as the Gators picked up the win.
 
Inside the Box

• Genareo led the team with a season-high 20 points while pulling down six rebounds with three assists.
• Bickart also achieved a season-high of 19 points with five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Lauer finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
• Bella Antonacci (Indiana, Pa./Indiana Area) had seven rebounds and six points while Ava Kobus (Pittsburgh, Pa./Norwin) produced eight points.
• Santicola had 14 rebounds and three blocks.
• The Gators hit eight threes in the game and had a 46-44 advantage in rebounds. 

News and Notes

• Allegheny is now 10-6 overall and 9-2 in PAC play this season.
• All-time, the Gators are now 10-4 against the Bison.
• Santicola entered the contest with 180 career blocks. With three blocks tonight, she is now just seven blocks off from breaking the program record of 189.

Up Next
The Gators are on the road next Saturday (Jan. 25) at Chatham.