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Gators Win NCAC Opener
December 5, 2007
MEADVILLE, Pa. - A strong defensive effort paved the way to victory for the Allegheny women's basketball team (3-4, 1-0 NCAC) on Wednesday as the Gators defeated Hiram (1-5, 0-1 NCAC) 61-39 in their first conference game of the 2007-08 season. Allegheny held the Terriers to 30% shooting from the field and did not allow a three-point basket in holding the opponent to the lowest point total against the Gators this year.
The game was tied at 10 apiece following a Hiram bucket with 13:48 remaining in the first half. The Gators gained control with a 19-4 run over the next nine minutes capped by a three-pointer from Laura Magnelli (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area), making the score 29-14 with just over four minutes left in the period. Hilary Collins (Franklin, Pa./Franklin) aided the Gator run with two three-pointers of her own.
After Hiram cut the lead back down to 11, Allegheny responded, scoring the final five points of the half including another three-pointer from Magnelli, sending the game to intermission with a 34-18 Allegheny lead.
Overall in the first half, Allegheny shot 62.5% (5-8) from three-point range and scored 13 points off of turnovers compared to only six for the Terriers.
Allegheny opened the second half with a 6-0 run culminating in a pair of Stephanie Wolf (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) free throws, giving the Gators their largest lead of the game (24) with 18:02 left to play. Hiram was able to cut the lead to 15 midway through the half, but could get no closer, as the Gators outscored the Terriers 27-21 in the period en route to a 61-39 final score.
Emilie Simone (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) led the way for Allegheny with a team-high 13 points and seven rebounds while Brittany Bell (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) and Magnelli each reached double-figures, scoring 12 and 10 respectively. Bell also recorded a game-high four assists while Jill Gregory (Jeanette, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) totaled six points and seven boards.
Hiram had two players in double-figures, Stephanie Zunic (14) and Alex Dellas (12), with the latter grabbing six rebounds.
For the game, Allegheny shot .344 from the field compared to .304 for the Terriers. The Gators connected on five three-pointers to none for Hiram and held a 43-36 edge on the boards.
The Gators return to action on Saturday, December 8 with a road contest at Kenyon. Tip-off from Gambier, Ohio is set for 1:00 p.m.