MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny women's basketball team looked to start of the 2011-12 season as they have the previous two, with a win over non-conference rival Grove City. The Gators would use a lethal combination of stifling defense, and deadly shooting to down the Wolverines 71-56 in the first game of the season for both sides.
 
Allegheny would start the game on a tear, opening up a 16-4 lead just five and a half minutes into the contest. The Gators press defense would prove troublesome for the Wolverines early and often causing Grove City to turn over the ball 15 times in the first half. Allegheny would not waste any opportunities, scoring 19 points off Grove City's turnovers. Allegheny would shoot an outstanding 41.7% from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, including shooting 40% from three. In contrast, Grove City was only able to shoot 34.6%, while going just 1-5 from beyond the arc.
 
The Gators also controlled the paint in the first half, out rebounding the Wolverines 20-17. Allegheny would score 22 of their 37 first half points in the paint, while Grove City would only be able to muster 20 total points in the opening stanza.
 
The second half would start off just as the first half ended, as Allegheny would climb out to an impressive 27 point lead with 7:32 remaining in the game. The Wolverines would not go away though, forcing the Gators to go cold from the field while going on a 17-3 run late in the ball game.
 
However, it was too little; too late as Allegheny's lead would never get lower than 13 in the second half. Reigning NCAC newcomer of the year, sophomore Erica Restich, would have a monster game for Allegheny scoring a game high 24 points, and five steals to lead the Gators. Juniors Heidi Goeller and Daryl Ford would also prove big for Allegheny, as they set the tone down low. They would combine for 38 points and 17 rebounds, while both going perfect from the line (9-9).
 
The Gators would end the game shooting 38.2% from the field, outscoring Grove City 34-16 in the paint, and 27-16 off turnovers. The win moves Allegheny to 1-0 on the season, as they will be off until Friday night, when they will host Westminster College in the first round of the Allegheny Invitational at 6:00 pm. The other first round match-up will see John Carroll University face off against Misericordia at 3:00 pm.