GROVE CITY, Pa. – The Allegheny women's basketball team opened Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play at Grove City Wednesday (Nov. 15), defeating the Wolverines 61-51.
 
The Gators got out to a fast start, netting the first six points of the contest. They held that advantage throughout the opening frame. Leading 11-10 with just under two minutes left, the Gators rattled off a 7-0 run to end the first quarter up 18-10.
 
The Wolverines limited the Gators early in the second quarter, taking the lead at 22-20 after a three pointer. The score remained close the rest of the way as Grove City led 26-25 at halftime.
 
Sarah Santicola (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) led the team with nine points and seven rebounds in the opening half. Sofia Genareo (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern Central) chipped in with five points. The team held a 28-26 edge in rebounds.
 
Similar to the opening of the first half, the Gators started the second half on a 6-0 run to regain the lead, 31-26. All six points were scored by Emily Lauer (Knox, Pa./Keystone). Grove City called a timeout, but the run persisted, reaching 12-0 before the Wolverines broke it up. In the end, the Gators outpaced the Wolverines 22-8 in the frame, taking a 47-34 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
The Gators maintained that lead in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines attempted a comeback late in the quarter, but the Gator defense held tough as they collected the conference victory, 61-51.
 
Inside the Box

• Lauer led the team with a season-high 21 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the floor. The junior also had five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
• Santicola tallied her fourth straight double-double of the year with 16 points and 11 rebounds. In addition to the double-double, Santicola blocked a career-high seven shots, tied for the fifth highest single game total in team history.
• Jess Bickart (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) recorded a career-high 15 rebounds in addition to nine points and three steals.
• Jasmyn Fisher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) had eight points.
• Genareo finished with eight rebounds and five points.
• Branygan Bianchin (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) had a career-high seven assists.
• The Gators shot 41.4% (24-of-58) from the floor for the game. 

News and Notes

• The Gators are now 28-17 all-time against Grove City.
• Santicola's fourth straight double-double to start the season matches her double-double total from last season.
• The 22 points scored by the Gators in the third quarter was their highest single frame output of the season.
• Santicola blocked a career-high seven shots, tied for fifth most in a single game for a Gator.
• Bickart pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds.
• Bianchin assisted on a career-high seven baskets. 

Up Next
The Gators will play their home opener Tuesday (Nov. 21) against Bethany in PAC action.