Gators Fall at W&J 57-54

Nov 23, 2004

Boxscore

WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Allegheny College women’s basketball team suffered its first loss of the 2004-05 campaign Tuesday night with a 57-54 setback at Washington & Jefferson College. The defeat brings the Gators record down to 2-1, while W&J improves to 2-1.

The Gators opened up the game on fire, as a three-pointer by junior guard Valery Medwid (Coraopolis, Pa./ Montour) gave Allegheny a 9-0 lead just 2:15 into the game. Allegheny would hold as large as a 10-point margin and after Medwid drained another triple with 6:18 to play in the half, the Gators held a 25-16 advantage.

But the rest of the half belonged to W&J, as the Presidents closed the half with a 12-0 run, which included three straight hoops by W&J forward Leigh Sulkowski to close the period and send the hosts into the locker room with a 28-25 lead. Allegheny managed to shoot 33 percent in the opening half but W&J went to the free throw line 13 times, sinking 12 to propel them to the three-point halftime margin.

In the second half, the Presidents hit a three to open the half but Allegheny answered with six straight points to tie the game, the first of what would be six ties in the second half. W&J took another six-point lead at 52-46 with 5:38 remaining but the Gators rallied with a 7-0 run that was capped off by Medwid’s third three-pointer of the evening to put AC ahead 53-52.

But again, the Gator would run cold down the stretch offensively. Following a Presidents bucket, junior forward Kristin Lyzen (Brook Park, Pa./ Midpark) hit a free throw to tie the game at 54 with 1:42 to play. Lyzen would miss the second free throw and the Gators grabbed three offensive rebounds but missed three chances to take the lead. When W&J finally pulled in a defensive board, they got loose in transition, which led to a Lauren Slampek lay-up with 1:03 to play to put the Presidents ahead for good. Despite hitting just one of three foul shots in the final 33 seconds, Allegheny could not get the equalizer, as Medwid’s final three at the buzzer came off the back iron.

Allegheny shot 31 percent for the contest (20-65) but held a 47-39 advantage on the glass, which included 26 offensive boards.

The Gators continued their balanced scoring, as Medwid led with 11 points and four steals. McDonough tallied 10 points and nine boards, while Steding registered nine markers and 11 caroms and Lyzen pulled down nine rebounds in the game.

Leading the Presidents was Sulkowski with 14 points, seven rebounds and six blocks. Guards Courtney Janczak and Dayna Greenfield each added 12.

Allegheny returns home for its next game, as it hosts Thiel College at 2 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 27.

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