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Gators Run Win Streak to Six
January 29, 2005
MEADVILLE, Pa. – Allegheny College senior guard Raelynn Miles (McDonald, Pa./ Fort Cherry) scored a career-high 18 points as the Gators (13-5, 6-4) won their sixth consecutive game Saturday afternoon by a 69-58 count at Ohio Wesleyan University (13-6, 7-3).
Allegheny scored the opening six points of the game and took a 22-15 lead behind five points from Miles and two lay-ups from senior forward Jackie Tubo (Altoona, Pa.) with 10:09 to play in the first half. The Bishops answered with an 11-3 spurt over the next seven minutes to take their last lead of the game at 26-25 with 3:28 remaining. The game would eventually go to intermission knotted at 30, as both teams shot 32 percent in the first 20 minutes of the game.
The Gators came out strong in the second half, using a 12-2 run to push their lead to 42-32 at the 15:59 mark. Senior forward Meredith McDonough (Pittsburgh, Pa./ Oakland Catholic) hit consecutive baskets and Miles delivered a jumper and two free throws during the run.
OWU spent the rest of the game trying to catch up and the Gators held off every Bishop run down the stretch. A three from Kelly Heil whittled the Gator lead to 45-43, but sophomore guard Katie Kestler (Pittsburgh, Pa./ Mt. Lebanon) answered with her own triple. In the final seven minutes, the hosts cut the AC advantage to four points twice, including a three from Heil to make it a 60-56 game with 3:34 left.
Miles then stepped up to seal the victory. She hit a free throw, then after missing the next, grabbed the offensive rebound and scored a lay-up to swell Allegheny’s lead to 65-56. She later hit two free throws with 1:20 to go to clinch the Gators 11th victory in their last 12 games.
Allegheny used a dominating effort on the glass to aid their winning cause. A 53-37 advantage on the boards was highlighted by 22 offensive caroms that led to 22 second-chance points for AC. Sophomore guard Meghan Vasilisan (Munhall, Pa./ Oakland Catholic) and junior forward Courtney Steding (McDonald, Pa./ Fort Cherry) led the assault on the boards with 11 and 10 respectively.
Miles' career-high of 18 points was highlighted by her 10-13 effort from the foul line. She also added six rebounds. McDonough tossed in 14 points, while Kestler buried three trifectas on her way to 12 points. Steding continued her solid all-around play, as she added eight points, five assists and three blocks to her double-digit rebounds.
Ohio Wesleyan was led by Heil with 26 points and nine rebounds in the setback. Forward Erica Brizendine contributed 13 markers in the game.
Allegheny returns to action Feb. 1 when it hosts Oberlin (Ohio) College at 7:30 p.m. in the Wise Center.