MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny women's basketball team fell in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) semifinals Thursday night (Feb. 27) to Chatham, 57-45, in Meadville.
 
In a defensive oriented start of the game, the Gators took a 5-0 lead with all five points coming from Bella Antonacci (Indiana, Pa./Indiana Area). A pair of threes by the Cougars put them in front 6-5 with three minutes remaining in the frame. A steal and fast break layup by Emily Lauer (Knox, Pa./Keystone) put Allegheny back in front as they led 9-8 at the end of one.
 
The Gators got out to a fast start in the second, opening the quarter on a 10-2 run to push their lead to 19-10. Following a timeout, the Cougars went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to three. Lauer ended the Chatham run by hitting a corner three. The score remained close as a buzzer beater half court shot by Chatham cut the Allegheny lead to 23-21 at the halftime break.
 
Antonacci led the Gators with seven first half points. Santicola had six points to go with 11 rebounds while Lauer also netted six. The Gators shot 44.0% (11-25) from the floor in the opening half while earning a 23-19 advantage in rebounds. 
 
Chatham gained the lead after opening the third on a 4-0 run. After calling a timeout, the Gators tied the game back up on a Jess Bickart (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) floater, but the Cougars answered with a 7-2 run to gain a 32-27 lead midway through the quarter. Chatham continued to improve their lead as it increased to 40-29 going into the final quarter.
 
The fourth quarter opened up with Lauer completing a four point play after getting fouled on a made three pointer. The Gators continued to chip away at the lead as another basket by Lauer cut it to 45-39 with five minutes remaining.
 
Lauer rattled in another corner three to make it a three point game a minute later. The Cougars scored the ensuing six points to lead 51-42 with just over a minute to play.
 
Antonacci hit a three to cut the lead 51-45. However, the Cougars were good at the free-throw line down the stretch as they held on for the lead. 
 
Inside the Box

• Lauer led the Gators with 15 points. She also had three assists.
• Antonacci finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
• Santicola had 14 rebounds, seven points and four blocks.
• Genareo had 12 rebounds to go with five points.
• Allegheny shot 35.8% (19-53) from the floor. 

News and Notes

• The Gators end the season with an 18-8 overall record. It marked the most overall wins since they won 19 in the 2006-07 season.
• Their 17 conference wins were the most in program history.
• Lauer ends her career as the second leading scorer in program history with 1,704 points.
• Santicola finished the season with 286 rebounds, the fifth most in a single season while her 57 blocks are also fifth best.