Ohio Wesleyan 77, Allegheny 52

Jan. 12, 2008

Senior wing Steffi Graf (Poland/Seminary) scored 7 points during a 13-3 run that put Ohio Wesleyan ahead to stay, and added 9 points during a 16-3 run that helped the Bishops pull away for a North Coast Athletic Conference win over Allegheny on Saturday in Meadville, Pa.

With the score tied at 2-2, freshman post Kayla Gordon (St. Louis, Mo./Mehlville) buried a 3-pointer to put Ohio Wesleyan ahead to stay, and Graf followed with a 3-pointer and a lay-in. Senior post Kelli Lester (Pataskala/Watkins Memorial) added a 3-pointer and Graf capped the first Bishop run with a lay-in that stretched the Ohio Wesleyan lead to 15-5 just over 5 minutes into the game.

Allegheny rallied to within 26-21, getting a 3-pointer by Brittany Bell and a basket and 3 free throws from Jill Gregory while holding the Bishops without a basket for more than 4 minutes.

Graf sank a pair of free throws to make it a 28-21 game, then stole the ball and converted a 3-point play to put the lead back into double digits at 31-21. Freshman wing Chelsie Spiegel (Upper Sandusky/Riverdale), Graf and senior guard Kathleen Cooper (Columbus/Upper Arlington) followed with hoops before a Cooper 3-pointer and a Graf jumper extended the margin to 42-24 in the closing seconds of the first half.

The Gators scored the first 6 points of the second half to slice the deficit to 42-33, but senior wing Lindsey Macklin (Columbus/Bexley) drilled a 3-pointer to end the Allegheny run, and the lead would remain in double figures for the remainder of the contest.

Graf led the Bishops with 24 points and shared the team lead with 5 rebounds. Gordon scored 11 points and shared the Bishop lead with 5 boards, and Cooper dished out a team-high 6 assists.

Gregory and Emilie Simone scored 11 points apiece to lead Allegheny. Shannon Culbreath led all players with 8 rebounds.

Box Score