Owls post duo gets going but Gators get win

GAMBIER, Ohio — The Kenyon College women’s basketball team took to Tomsich Arena for the second straight day as the Owls hosted Allegheny College for a non-conference matinee. Despite Kenyon getting 30 combined points from a pair of post players, the Owls (2-7, 0-1 NCAC) fell 64-48 to the visiting Gators (4-7, 3-3 PAC). 

Claudia Cooke and Anissa Hardy each had strong showings, but it was tough sledding for Kenyon overall. Cooke scored a team-high 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds, but she was held to a 6-13 shooting clip with four turnovers and four fouls. The senior scored nine points in a fourth quarter that saw Kenyon double up the Gators, but the late surge did not alter the outcome. Hardy matched a career-high with 14 points and pulled down six boards. The sophomore also tied for the team lead with two assists, and her three blocks tied for a game- and season-high.

The Owls outscored the Gators 16-8 in the final frame after holding the visitors to a 4-17 (23.5 percent) mark from the floor and a 0-5 clip from three-point range. However, Allegheny amassed an advantage over the first three quarters that Kenyon could not overcome. The Gators led 56-32 after a third quarter where they outscored the Owls 17-8 thanks to a significant shooting differential. The visitors hit 8-of-11 (72.7 percent) of their shots while holding the Owls to a 3-13 (23.1 percent clip).

The Gators hit a three-pointer on the game’s first possession and led for all but 38 seconds. A Bela Krslovic trifecta a few possessions later put the Owls up 4-3, but the one-point edge was Kenyon’s only lead on the day.

Allegheny was led by Emily Lauer, who set game-highs with nine field goals, 18 shots, 19 points, and four steals. The junior entered the game needing 10 points to reach 1,000 in her career, and she surpassed the milestone early in the second period after nine first-quarter points.

Sarah Santicola was a disruptor down low, grabbing a game-high nine rebounds, blocking three shots, and scoring 13 points. Jess Bickart tied a season-high with 10 assists, adding six points and six rebounds.

Mikayla Rudolph had a tough shooting day (4-13), but the sophomore made an impact with nine points, seven rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Krslovic knocked down two triples and finished with eight points, and Grace Murphy chipped in a point at the charity stripe to round out the Kenyon scorers.

The Owls have nearly a week off before hosting a third straight game in Tomsich Arena. Kenyon returns to action against Anderson University (IN) on Saturday, December 16, when the teams tip off at 2 p.m.