WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Allegheny women's basketball team hit a program record 14 three pointers as the Gators picked up an 85-80 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) road victory at Washington and Jefferson Wednesday (Feb. 12).
 
The Gators got out to a 7-2 start following a three by Bella Antonacci (Indiana, Pa./Indiana Area). The Presidents brought the lead down to 9-7 before a traditional three point play by Sarah Santicola (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) increased their lead to 12-7 midway through the opening quarter. The teams matched each other in the latter half of the quarter as the Gators kept a five point lead, 20-15, after ten minutes of play.
 
The Presidents made up some ground early in the second, cutting the lead to 25-23. Allegheny responded with a 5-0 run before Washington and Jefferson once again cut the deficit down to 30-27 with four minutes remaining in the frame. Down the stretch, the Gators outpaced their counterparts 8-2 as a late three by Sofia Genareo (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern Central) granted them a 38-29 halftime lead.
 
Santicola and Genareo each had nine points in the opening half while Emily Lauer (Knox, Pa./Keystone) had seven and Jess Bickart (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) added six. Bickart and Antonacci each had seven rebounds. As a team, the Gators shot 48.3% (14-29) from the field including six-of-11 (54.5%) from three. They also had a 24-19 edge in rebounds.
 
Allegheny continued to shoot well from deep as they hit four more threes in the first four minutes of the third quarter to increase their lead to 52-39. Midway through, the Presidents went on an 11-0 run to cut the lead to 56-54. The teams continued to battle back-and-forth in the third quarter as the Gators maintained a 65-62 lead heading into the final frame.
 
The contest remained close through the halfway point of the fourth as the Gators held a narrow 71-69 lead. Allegheny would then go on a 9-3 run to increase their lead to 80-72 with three minutes remaining.
 
Washington and Jefferson continued to pressure the Gators down the stretch, but the Gators held tough and converted free throw attempts to collect the 85-80 win.
 
Inside the Box

• Genareo had a season-high 21 points, making five three pointers.
• Santciola also had 21 points to go alongside five rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
• Bickart produced a 15 point, 12 rebound double-double. All 15 points came on three pointers.
• Lauer had a dozen points with four rebounds and four assists.
• Antonacci was the fifth Gator in double-figures, nearing a triple-double with 11 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
• For the game, the Gators shot 54.7% (29-53) from the floor, including 14-of-22 (63.6%) from deep. 

News and Notes

• The Gators are now 15-7 overall and 14-3 in PAC play.
• The Presidents lead the all-time series 24-17.
• The 14 three pointers made is a program record. The previous record was 13, set in 2006 against Oberlin.
• The Gators win snapped a seven game losing streak to the Presidents dating back to 2018. It also snapped a Washington and Jefferson 43 game PAC home winning streak dating back to the 2019-20 season.
• Genareo and Bickart had career highs with five three pointers each. 

Up Next
The Gators will host Saint Vincent Saturday (Feb. 15) on Senior Day.