Late First Half Run Propels Gators

Nov 27, 2004

Boxscore

Meadville, Pa. (Nov. 27, 2004) — The Allegheny women’s basketball team might have started a little slow against the visiting Thiel Tomcats but they finished strong in an 87-48 victory. The win puts Allegheny at 3-1 while the Tomcats fall to 0-4.

The first ten minutes was a back-and-forth match before junior guard Beth Van Parys (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) hit a basket, off a feed from junior guard Valey Medwid (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour), to give Allegheny a 25-19 lead and start a 21-4 run to end the half.

During the last ten minutes the Gators had five assists and made four of four from the free throw line, while forcing eight Tomcat turnovers. Sophomore forward Jennifer Latronica (Gibsonia, Pa./Deer Lakes) was a spark off the bench scoring six points and grabbing five boards.

A 51.6% shooting half and tough defense, which held the Tomcats to just five field goals in the second half, helped the Gators extend their lead into the 30’s. The Gators high shooting percentage from the field, coupled with their 14-14 free throw night helped erase their 23 turnovers.

Thiel’s Kristen Benjamin was the games high scorer with 19 points and also grabbed a game high seven rebounds. Ariel Venesky hit two three pointers and scored nine points to lead the Tomcat bench.

A pair of forwards in Courtney Steding (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) and Meredith McDonough (Pittsburgh, Pa./Oakland Catholic) led Allegheny in scoring. Steding finished with 11 points, nine in the first half, while McDonough totaled 10 points and grabbed five boards.

Allegheny’s balanced attack saw four players score eight points for the evening. Medwid and sophomore guard Becca Gasiewicz (Grove City, Pa./Kennedy Christian) both hit two three-pointers on their way to eight points while forwards Kristen Lyzen (Brook Park, Ohio/Midpark) and Latronica hit from the paint.

Senior guard Raelynn Miles (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) led the team with five assists and grabbed five rebounds as well.

The Gators are in action again on Tuesday, November 30 when they travel to the College of Wooster (Ohio) for their first NCAC contest. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

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