Box Score
Allegheny 53, Ohio Wesleyan 40

Sophomore guard Nicole Popovich (Rocky River) and sophomore post Elea Karras (Bellbrook/Miami Valley) scored 3 points apiece as Ohio Wesleyan opened the second half with an 8-0 run to take the lead, but Allegheny countered with an 18-2 run and went on to a North Coast Athletic Conference win over the Bishops on Saturday at Branch Rickey Arena.

Ohio Wesleyan had erased an early 6-0 deficit, closing to within 6-5 midway through the first quarter and then getting a pair of lay-ins from sophomore guard Claire Sterling (West Jefferson) and buckets from sophomore guard Meghann Dunning (Mentor/Lake Catholic) and Karras during an 8-2 run that gave the Bishops a 13-12 lead midway through the second period.

The Gators retook the lead on a Brooke Smith 3-pointer, and another Smith trifecta and a pair of Rylee Donovan free throws helped the visitors take a 22-18 advantage into the locker room.

Karras drove for a lay-in on the Bishops' opening possession of the second half and Sterling followed with a hoop before Popovich and Karras each split a pair of free throws.  When Popovich drove for a lay-in with 6:23 left in the quarter, Ohio Wesleyan was ahead, 26-22.

Allegheny scored the next 10 points of the contest, with Delaney Arbore and Zoe Soilis hitting lay-ins before Julianna Skowron added a pair of buckets and Arbore scored on a fast break.

Popovich scored on a fast break to end the Gator run and bring the Bishops within 32-28, but the visitors would score the final 8 points of the period, with Smith connecting from long range and Arbore converting a 3-point play during the final seconds of the period to increase the Allegheny lead to 40-28.  Smith drove for a pair of lay-ins and Arbore added a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter, and the lead would remain in double digits for the remainder of the contest.

Popovich led the Bishops with 13 points and 12 rebounds.  Karras finished with 10 points.

Arbore led Allegheny with 18 points.

Box Score