Gator Comeback Results in 58-53 Victory at Wittenberg

Feb 4, 2005

Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – After being held to 14 first half points, the Allegheny College women’s basketball team shot 58 percent in the second half to come back for a 58-53 victory at Wittenberg (Ohio) University Friday night.

The win was the Gators’ seventh consecutive and raised their record to 15-5 overall and 8-4 in the NCAC. It also drew them into a tie with the Tigers in the NCAC, who fell to 12-9 and 8-4.

Neither team did much offensively in the opening half, as the two squads combined to shoot 24 percent (16-68). Allegheny trailed 17-9 until a three-pointer by sophomore guard Katie Kestler (Pittsburgh, Pa./ Mt. Lebanon) and a jumper by senior forward Meredith McDonough (Pittsburgh, Pa./ Oakland Catholic) cut the Tiger lead to 17-14 with 3:35 to go before the half. Wittenberg would close the period with six straight points to carry a 23-14 advantage into the locker room.

Hitting just six of 29 shots, the Gators did not attempt a free throw in the first half and were led by Kestler’s eight points. Despite allowing 16 offensive boards to Wittenberg, Allegheny’s defense kept them in the game, as the hosts shot only 26 percent (10-39) in the first half.

Wittenberg scored the opening hoop of the half to build its biggest lead at 25-14 before the Gators began to chip away. The Tiger lead was at 33-27 with 11:22 to go when Kestler ignited a run of nine consecutive AC points with a three and a jumper. Kestler (right) would hit another triple and McDonough scored two more hoops, including a jumper at the 5:14 mark to cap an 18-4 burst that saw the Gators move in front by a 45-37 margin.

The Tigers tried to mount their own comeback and four times they were able to move within three points. But the Gators had an answer all four times, as senior guard Raelynn Miles (McDonald, Pa./ Fort Cherry) and junior forward Courtney Steding (McDonald, Pa./ Fort Cherry) both hit lay-ups to thwart Wittenberg threats. Then in the final minute, Miles and Steding each swished a pair of free throws to clinch the win that snapped AC’s eight-game losing streak to the Tigers, dating back to 2001.

Allegheny’s offense, which rebounded to go 18 of 31 from the floor in the second half, was led by Kestler’s 16 points off the bench. Miles added nine points, while McDonough (left) finished with eight points to give her 985 for her career and leaving her 15 shy from becoming the 11th women’s player in Allegheny history from scoring 1,000 for her career. Steding had yet another solid all-around game with six points, nine rebounds and three blocks.

Wittenberg’s Kathy Hittle posted a double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds, which helped the Tigers possess a 57-38 advantage on the boards, including a 25-8 margin on the offensive glass. Wittenberg finished the game with 22 turnovers, which resulted in 22 Allegheny points on the evening.

The Gators don’t have much time to enjoy the victory, as they return to action Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Earlham (Ind.) College. Allegheny enjoyed a 62-39 victory over the Quakers back on Jan. 7.

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