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Gators Host Conference Tilt Despite Loss on the Road
February 19, 2005
Granville, Ohio - The women’s basketball team had trouble finding the goal against Denison (Ohio) University in a 63-47 loss on the road. Allegheny falls to 18-7 and 10-6 in conference but holds on to the four-seed in the NCAC tournament, thanks to an Ohio Wesleyan University loss this afternoon. Denison improves to 16-8 and 12-4 and will be the number two seed in the tournament.
The Gators jumped to an early 17-6 lead with 11 points off six turnovers during a four- minute span. During those four minutes, Allegheny forced turnovers on four straight possessions.
Down by 11 points at the 13:32 mark of the first half, the Big Red went on an 11-point run to tie the score with 7:44 before the break. Allegheny went cold from the field, missing on six attempts.
The Gators led by one with just over two minutes before the break until two free throws and a three-point basket on one possession gave the Big Red a four-point lead. Kristen Sheffield then hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Denison a seven-point advantage at the break.
It was all Denison in the second half, as Allegheny only scored 19 points on 8-27 shooting.
Allegheny’s defense continued to be solid as they forced the Big Red into 23 total turnovers, while only committing 11 of their own.
Sophomore Katie Kestler (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon), senior forward Meredith McDonough (Pittsburgh, Pa./Oakland Catholic), and junior guard Valery Medwid (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) each hit for eight points to lead the Gators. Junior guard Beth Van Parys (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) was the top Gator on the boards with five rebounds.
Emma Woodward continued her tear against the Gators, scoring 18 points, grabbing seven boards, and dishing out seven assists. In the last meeting, she also recorded 18 points and seven rebounds. Marissa Hard contributed with 11 points, while Sheffield finished with eight points and 15 rebounds.
Allegheny will host Ohio Wesleyan in the first round of the NCAC Tournament on Tuesday, February 22 at 7:30 p.m. Allegheny has beaten OWU twice this year, both by 10 or more points. Should Allegheny defeat the Bishops, they would play the winner of top-seeded Kenyon and Hiram on Friday, February 25, at a time to be determined.