MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny women's basketball team picked up a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) win at home against Thiel, 88-60, Wednesday evening (Jan. 24).
 
Before the game, members of the team honored Allegheny staff for Faculty Appreciation Night.
 
The teams went back-and-forth to start the contest as a pair of threes by Thiel gave them a 10-8 advantage at the first media timeout. The Gators came out strong after the timeout, going on a 14-3 run to end the quarter, taking a 22-13 lead. The Gators created seven turnovers and grabbed 12 offensive rebounds in the frame.
 
The momentum carried over to the second quarter, starting on a 7-0 run. Thiel continued to stay in the game as they hit six three pointers, but the Gators upped their lead to 38-24 at halftime.
 
Sarah Santicola (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) produced a double-double in the first half with 11 rebounds and 10 points. Analyse Rios (Orlando, Fla./Timber Creek) produced nine points and a pair of steals. The Gators owned a 32-15 advantage in rebounds, including a 16-0 mark in offensive rebounds. Allegheny also created 13 turnovers.
 
The Gators continued to control the game in the third quarter, scoring a game high 29 points in the frame. The 29 points tied a season-high for points in a quarter this season. Thiel would outscore Allegheny 23-21 in the final frame but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
 
Inside the Box

• Emily Lauer (Knox, Pa./Keystone) led the team with 15 points to go alongside five rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block.
• Santicola finished with 16 rebounds, 14 points and three blocks.
• Rios produced her second highest scoring output of the season with 14 points. She also had five rebounds and three steals.
• Branygan Bianchin (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) netted a season-high 13 points on six-of-eight shooting.
• Sofia Genareo (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern Central) was the fifth Gator in double digits with 12 points and four rebounds.
• Elly Gray (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey) and Sydney Watko (Ketchikan, Alaska/Pomeroy (Wash.) had six points apiece.
• Jess Bickart (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) pulled down 11 rebounds to go with four points.
• Kate Leach (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) had a pair of points while Jasmyn Fisher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) and Jenna Lutz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) converted free throws as all 11 Gators got on the scoreboard.
• Allegheny outrebounded Thiel 59-26 with 26 offensive rebounds.  

News and Notes

• With the win, Allegheny improved to 7-5 in the PAC.
• The Gators are now 25-9 all-time against Thiel.
• Twenty-nine points in the third quarter tied a season-high for the Gators.
• Santicola reached 62 blocks for the season, topping her total of 61 from last season. That currently ranks as the third most in a season for Allegheny.

Up Next
The Gators remain at home Saturday (Jan. 27) when they play host to Geneva.