Box Score
Allegheny 66, Ohio Wesleyan 60

Sophomore post Cierra Joiner (Centerburg) hit a lay-in that brought Ohio Wesleyan within a single point, but Allegheny held on for a win in the North Coast Athletic Conference opener for both teams on Saturday in Meadville, Pa.

The Gators had led, 61-56, before senior guard Claire Sterling (West Jefferson) drove for a lay-in, then blocked a shot on the other end with Joiner clearing the defensive rebound.  Joiner then sank a lay-in that made it 61-60 with 1:21 left in regulation time.

Allegheny's Zoe Youdell drove for a lay-in to give the Gators a 3-point lead with 1:02 remaining, and after a Bishop turnover, Rylee Donovan hit the first of 2 free throws to make it a 2-possession game with :31 to go.  Zoe Soilis added a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to close out the day's scoring.

Senior guard Nicole Popovich (Rocky River) buried a 3-pointer that gave the Bishops a 7-6 lead late in the first quarter, but the Gators closed the period with a Brooke Smith jumper from the lane, then a Mari Casale steal and a Soilis 3-pointer just before the horn for a 19-11 lead.  Soilis opened the second-quarter scoring with a 3-pointer to extend the margin into double digits, and a Donovan 3-pointer midway through the period gave Allegheny its biggest advantage of the day at 27-15.

Sterling sank 4 consecutive free throws and sophomore guard Leah Maniaci (Marion/Pleasant) followed with a hoop to bring the Bishops within 29-25 late in the quarter.

Sterling fueled a 7-0 run late in the third quarter with a jumper from the lane and a 3-pointer that made it a 45-43 game, but Donovan answered with a 3-pointer for Allegheny, and Ohio Wesleyan would not come closer than 3 points until Joiner's bucket in the closing minutes.

Sterling led the Bishops with 28 points and 13 rebounds, and Joiner added 14 points.  Senior point guard Meghann Dunning (Mentor/Lake Catholic) was credited with 5 assists.

Soilis led Allegheny with 13 points.

Box Score