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First Half Run Keys Gator Win
February 13, 2008
MEADVILLE, Pa. – A 23-4 run midway through the first half provided all the cushion necessary for the Allegheny women’s basketball team (9-13, 6-7 NCAC) on Wednesday evening, as the Gators defeated Oberlin (5-17, 4-9 NCAC) by a score of 73–52. Sophomore forward Emilie Simone (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) led the Allegheny effort with a game-high 19 points.
After falling behind 12-6, the Gators gained their first lead of the game, at 15-14, following a Shannon Culbreath (Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor Academy) layup with 11:21 remaining on the first half clock. Allegheny proceeded to outscore the Yeowomen 14-2 over the next seven minutes, building their advantage to 29-16 after a pair of Jill Gregory (Jeanette, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) free throws at the 5:19 mark of the period. In all, the Blue and Gold held Oberlin without a field goal for nine and a half minutes. The Yeowomen were only able to trim one point off of their deficit as the Gators went into intermission with a 37-25 lead.
The Allegheny advantage never fell below double-digits in the second half, as Oberlin could only get as close as 10, at 42-32, with 15:13 left in the game. The Gators largest lead of 26, came after a Culbreath jumper to make the score 70-44 with 4:33 remaining in the contest.
Including Simone’s 19, three Gators scored in double-figures with Brittany Bell (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) and Stephanie Wolf (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) totaling 13 and 10, respectively. Culbreath totaled eight points and grabbed a team-best 11 boards while Wolf led the Gators with seven assists and Simone totaled a team-high five blocks.
Oberlin’s Christina Spencer led the visitors with 12 points while Roneisha Kinney recorded a game-high 14 rebounds.
The Gators shot .414 compared to .288 for Oberlin but were outrebounded 48-45. Allegheny outscored the Yeowomen 34-18 in the paint and held a 19-11 advantage in points off of turnovers.
Allegheny returns to action this weekend with a road game at Ohio Wesleyan. Tip-off from Delaware, Ohio is slated for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.