PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Allegheny women's basketball team continued the early portion of their 2025-26 schedule at Chatham University's Cougar Classic against Wittenberg Friday (Nov. 14), falling to the Tigers 71-59.
 
Allegheny opened the game on an 8-0 run. The Gators continued to shoot well in the opening frame. Late in the period, their lead reached 15 points, 23-8, following a Sarah Santicola (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) lay-up. 
 
The Tigers controlled the start of the second quarter as they scored the first 12 points to pull within a point. The Gators pushed their lead to five late, but the Tigers scored the final points of the half as Allegheny kept a 31-30 lead at the half.
 
The teams went back-and-forth in the third quarter. Wittenberg gained a four-point advantage, 43-39, with four minutes left. The Gators responded with a 4-0 run to tie the game. The Tigers would convert a pair of free-throws with 20 seconds left as they took a two-point lead, 45-43, into the fourth quarter.
 
The Tiger lead remained at two until they went on an 8-0 run to push their advantage to 57-47. Jess Bickart (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) broke up the run with a jumper, but the Tigers scored the next five points. The Gators were unable to overcome that run as they fell in non-conference action to the Tigers.
 
Inside the Box

• Santicola finished with a 22 point, 16 rebound double-double. She also had a pair of steals.
• Isabella Antonacci (Indiana, Pa./Indiana Area) was also in double digits with 15 points.
• Kate Leach (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) finished with eight points, eight rebounds and steals. 
• Bickart ended the game with six rebounds, five assists and four points.
• Ava Kobus (Pittsburgh, Pa./Norwin) grabbed five rebounds and scored four points.
• Mackenzie James (Wexford, Pa./North Catholic) and Ashlan Price (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem) had three points each.

News and Notes

• Former foes in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), Allegheny and Wittenberg met for the first time since the Gators left the NCAC in 2022.
• Santicola posted her third consecutive double-double with season highs in points (22) and rebounds (16).
• Santicola needs only 12 rebounds to tie the all-time record of 868, set by Carson Slade '91.
• Antonacci reached double-digit points for the third consecutive game to start the season.

Up Next
The Gators conclude play at the Cougar Classic on Saturday (Nov. 15) against Mary Washington.