Gators Win Eighth Straight

Feb 3, 2006

Boxscore

MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny College women’s basketball team won their eighth straight game and improved to 14-7, 10-2 in NCAC play, holding Earlham (Ind.) College (4-17, 3-9 NCAC) without a shot for the first 3:51 of the game, opening an 11-1 lead before cruising past the Quakers 88-74.

Meghan Vasilisin (Munhall/Oakland Catholic) (right) led the way for Allegheny recording 15 points and eight rebounds, all of which were offensive. Three other Gators finished in double digits with Caitlin Murtagh (Bethel Park/Seton-La Salle) scoring 13 points, Katie Kestler (Pittsburgh/Mt. Lebanon) adding 11 points and Valery Medwid (Pittsburgh/Montour) pouring in 10.

The Gators came out strong taking a 10-point lead before the Quakers scored their first field goal nearly four minutes into the game. Allegheny maintained steady control of the half, leading by as many as 16 points with 18 seconds left in the half, before taking 14-point lead into the locker room.
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Allegheny continued to dominate in the second half, with Kestler hitting two of her three three-pointers, while the team finished with eight. The Quakers didn’t give up though, as they clawed their way back, cutting the deficit to nine, with 10:54 to play in the game. After seeing their once mighty lead cut to single digits, the team opened a 14-4 run to put the game out of reach. The Gators took a 23-point lead with 15:43 left in the game, before tallying a final score of 88-74.

The key factor of the game was defense, as the team forced 25 turnovers and recorded 17 steals on the night, with Vasilisin picking up six on her own. The Gators also dominated the boards, pulling in 42 rebounds, 22 on the offensive end, with Jennifer Latronica (Gibsonia/ Deer Lakes) grabbing seven on the night, while also blocking three shots.

The Quakers were lead by Tasha Merrill, Samantha Lurie, and Guin Summerton who had 18, 16, and 14 points, respectively.

The Gators return to action tomorrow when they host the Wittenberg University Tigers at 2:00 p.m., with the winner taking first place in the NCAC.

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