Box Score
MEADVILLE, Pa. – It’s déjà vu all over again. That was the case in Allegheny’s 69-57 loss to conference-standings leader Wittenberg on Saturday in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) women’s basketball action.
Like the first meeting between the two teams this season, the Tigers (15-6, 12-0 NCAC) shot 72 percent (18 of 25) from the free-throw line in the second half, hitting 13-for-18 in the final 10 minutes of the game to collect their 11th straight win and keep and unblemished record in the conference.
Carrie Dyer, Stephanie Boardman and Katherine Hueter recorded double figures to combine for 48 out of the 69 points. Dyer led with a game-high 18 points and seven rebounds, while Boardman finished with 16 and Hueter added 14 points.
Five of the Gators’ (9-12, 6-6 NCAC) seven three pointers belonged to Brittany Bell, who tallied 17 points, two assists and two steals. Jill Gregory posted nine points and nine boards.
The difference in today’s contest was the fact that Allegheny had the four point lead at halftime, not Wittenberg. The Gators held a slight lead for the first nine minutes with the Tigers tying the game on five occasions. Each time, Allegheny responded with a bucket but not once Wittenberg took a 44-43 lead off a Dyer layup.
Hueter knocked in two free throws and Sarah Watson hit the back end of two shots from the line for a 47-43 lead. Watson was sent to the line on the next possession and made both free throws for a six-point advantage.
The Gators could not recover from the Tigers outing from the charity stripe and Wittenberg kept building on the lead down the stretch. Elise Jenkins went 4-for-6 from the line and Lauren Cassel made the final layup to secure the win.
In the first half, the visitors grabbed the early lead on six points by Boardman to make it a 12-9 game. At the 10:54 mark, Shannon Culbreath’s jumper gave Allegheny the lead at 15-14.
The Gators made it a four-point lead on a Bell triple and Daryl Ford’s jumper, but the Tigers managed to tie the game at 23-all before Culbreath and Britni Mohney got Allegheny the four-points back for a cushion going into the second half.
The Gators return to action on Wednesday at Wooster. Game time is 7:30 p.m.