Antonacci Breaks Assist Record in Explosive 101-37 Victory vs. Pitt-Bradford

More news about: Allegheny

MEADVILLE, Pa. -- Fireworks from the new year celebration continued into Saturday's matchup against the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, as the Allegheny College women's basketball team routed the Panthers en route to a 101-37 victory.

Allegheny (5-6) ran away with its nonconference finale in one of the most dominant performances in recent memory. It was the team's first 100-point performance in more than a decade, and the 64-point margin of victory was the best since taking down Medgar Evers College by a final of 82-6 on December 29, 2012.

All nine players who dressed scored at least two points and grabbed at least one rebound, and five Gators reached double-digit points against the Panthers (0-9). On the defensive end, the Blue and Gold allowed no more than 11 points in any quarter, while giving up a game-low six points in the third. Pitt-Bradford made only 16-of-75 (21.3%) of its field goals and lost the rebound battle to the Gators, 57-to-47.

One of several standout performances came from second-year guard Isabella Antonacci (Indiana, Pa./Indiana Area). The reigning Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Newcomer of the Year broke a program record for assists in a game with 16 dimes. Antonacci surpassed the previous mark of 15 set by Suzanne Helfant '88, a 1998 Allegheny Hall of Fame inductee and the team's record holder for career assists. Antonacci added 14 points, seven rebounds, and four steals to round out an all-around exceptional effort.

Inside the Box Score

  • The Gators made 42 of their 88 field goals (47.7%) and 11 of their 21 3-pointers (52.4%).
  • Allegheny scored a game-high 28 points in the first and second quarters, and led 56-21 at halftime.
  • The AC offense committed only seven total turnovers, while the defense logged 14 steals on 21 Pitt-Bradford turnovers.
  • Antonacci approached triple-double territory with 14 points, 16 assists, and seven rebounds.
  • Jess Bickart (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) led all scorers with 20 points to go along with six assists, five rebounds, and four steals.
  • Sarah Santicola (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) added 12 points, eight boards, three blocks, and two steals.
  • Off the bench, first-year guard Karina Vasquez (San Antonio, Texas/John M. Harlan) and sophomore Pascale Olczak (Plum, Pa./Plum) provided 18 and 14 points, respectively.
  • Olczak was one rebound shy of a double-double and led all players with four blocks.
  • Charlotte Pap (Cleveland, Ohio/Magnificat) made 3-of-7 (42.9%) of her 3-pointers for nine points.
  • Ashlan Price (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem) collected a team-high 10 rebounds with six points, four assists, and one steal.
  • Pitt-Bradford was led by Dalayla Alexander and Amber Murak with 10 and nine points, respectively.


News and Notes

  • Allegheny reached the 100-point plateau for the 21st time in program history.
  • The Gators reached 100 points for the first time since defeating Chatham University, 101-65, on November 17, 2015.
  • Allegheny improved to 6-1 all-time against Pitt-Bradford with their fourth consecutive win over the Panthers.
  • Allegheny is the seventh team in Division III to record at least 34 assists in a game this season, falling two shy of the national leader, NYU.
  • Antonacci's 16 assists are the most by a Division III player this season and tied for the most in any Division; D-I Kentucky's Tonie Morgan also had 16 against USC Upstate on November 12.
  • Antonacci earned the seventh double-double of her career.
  • Bickart reached double figures for the eighth time this season and scored at least 20 points for the second time.
  • Vasquez (18) and Olczak (14) both posted the highest-scoring games of their careers.


Up Next
Allegheny resumes its PAC schedule at Thiel College on Wednesday, January 7, at 5:30 p.m.