MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny women's basketball team's 2025-26 season came to an end Tuesday (Feb. 24) as they fell in the quarterfinals of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Tournament, 65-55.
 
The teams were evenly matched early on as Allegheny gained a 7-5 lead at the first media timeout. The Gators scored next out of the timeout before the Bison finished the frame on a 9-0 to take a 14-9 lead heading into the second quarter.
 
After Isabella Antonacci (Indiana, Pa./Indiana Area) cut the lead to three points at the start of the second, the Bison went on another run, this time 8-0, as their lead reached 22-11. The Gators then mounted a comeback, answering with their own 8-0 run to pull within three points. Bethany pushed their lead back to six points, 29-23, but Antonacci drew a foul on a three pointer in the final second and knocked down all three attempts to cut it to 29-26 entering the half.
 
Antonacci scored nine points in the opening half while Sarah Santicola (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) had seven points and seven rebounds. 
 
The Bison opened up the second half on a 7-0 run, leading to an Allegheny timeout. The lead grew to 38-26, but the Gators made up five points as they reached the midway point of the frame. Allegheny continued to cut into the lead in the third as a Santicola basket with just over a minute remaining made it a two point game, 43-41. The Bison would hit three free-throws in the final minute as the Gators trailed 46-41 entering the fourth.
 
Antonacci hit a three to start the fourth quarter. After a defensive stop, Ava Kobus (Pittsburgh, Pa./Norwin) converted a traditional three point play as the Gators gained the lead, their first since the first quarter. The run continued as Antonacci hit a jumper before the Bison got on the board for the frame. The Bethany basket kick started their own 10-0 run as they regained control, 56-49, with four minutes remaining.
 
The teams continued to battle as Allegheny brought the lead down to 58-55 with a minute remaining. However, the Bison held the Gators off the board in the final minute as the Allegheny season ended in the PAC Quarterfinals.
 
Inside the Box

• Antonacci led the Gators with 20 points, three assists and two rebounds.
• Santicola produced a 15 point, 13 rebound double-double while blocking a pair of shots.
• Eyra Co (Manila, Philippines/Pike Christian Academy (Ohio)) finished with 11 points and three rebounds.
• Kobus had 11 rebounds with seven rebounds.
• Jess Bickart (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) had six rebounds and five assists. 

News and Notes

• Allegheny is now 11-6 all-time against Bethany.
• Santicola ends her Allegheny journey as the program's career leader with 1,098 rebounds and 265 blocks. She also became the first Gator with 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, finishing with 1,188 points.
• Bickart joined the Gator 1,000 point club earlier this season, finishing her career with 1,048 points.
• Anontacci scored in double digits for the 19th straight game. She finished the season with 445 points, the seventh most in a season for a Gator.