Second-Half Surge Propels Gators to Win

Dec 13, 2006

Boxscore

GROVE CITY, Pa. – In what has become a common theme to the 2006-07 season, the Allegheny College women’s basketball team turned a close game into a big win with a second-half surge, running off a 13-0 run to start the second stanza en route to defeating host Grove City College 66-50 on Wednesday night.

With the victory, the Gators improve to 8-1 overall the season, marking the best start since the 1985-86 squad reeled off a 25-1 record before losing its second game. More importantly, the decision moves head coach Jennifer Reimer one win away from tying Allegheny’s all-time wins record set by Ronda Seagraves, who posted a record of 110-49 in six seasons at the helm. Reimer’s career record now stands at 109-60 over seven seasons. She will get her shot at the mark when the Gators travel to Texas for the San Padre Island Shootout on Dec. 29-30.

As for the game, the Gators opened up a double-digit lead early with an 11-0 run over a four-minute span in the first half, turning a three-point advantage (10-7) into 14 (21-7) at 12:07. The Wolverines dug their way back, however, running off a 12-2 spurt to cut the margin to just two (31-29) at the break.

In her first two games back in the lineup, senior Meghan Vasilisin (Munhall, Pa./Oakland Catholic) had tallied only two points in 21 minutes of action. On Wednesday night, she easily topped those numbers by kicking off the second half with three consecutive buckets as Allegheny quickly jumped out to a 15-point advantage (44-29) and held the double-digit lead for all but 34 seconds of the final period.

Vasilisin and fellow senior Jennifer Latronica (Gibsonia, Pa./Deer Lakes) dominated Grove City’s post players to the tune of 26 points and 14 rebounds combined. Vasilisin notched a dozen tallies on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor, while Latronica poured in a team-high 14 points and seven rebounds. The latter also moved into second-place on Allegheny’s all-time list with four blocked shots, giving her 116 in her career.

Each player who saw action for the Gators put a tally in the scorebook, including Stephanie Wolf (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) and Katie Kestler (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon), who each accumulated nine points. Wolf also added a game-high eight rebounds and four steals. Hilary Collins (Franklin, Pa./Franklin) chipped in with five points, six rebounds, and six assists, while Brittany Bell (Greensburgh, Pa./ Hempfield) led the reserves with six points.

Shannon Overdorff led Grove City with 12 points, while Rachel McCoy notched 11 points and seven rebounds.

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