MEADVILLE, PA.  --  The Hiram College women's basketball team was defeated by Allegheny (Pa.) College, 65-56, in the North Coast Athletic Conference opener in Meadville, Pa.

Sophomore forward Christy Griffin (Middlefield/Cardinal) scored 10 of Hiram's (1-5, 0-1 NCAC) first 15 points of the game, but the Terriers trailed Allegheny (6-2, 1-0 NCAC), 17-15, at the 9:35 minute mark of the first half.  Hiram evened the score at 17-17 on a basket by freshman forward Brianne Goodrich (Chesterland/West Geauga) as part of a 9-3 scoring run that put the Terriers up by the score of 24-20 with 6:36 left in the period.  The Terriers led the rest of the half and recorded their largest lead of seven points, 30-23, at the 3:02 mark following a layup by sophomore guard Preshus Hawthorne (Lorain).  The Gators rallied in the final minutes, but Hiram still maintained a 31-28 advantage at the intermission.

In the second half, Hiram led in the early minutes and posted its largest margin of the game of eight points, 42-34, with 14:00 left in the contest thanks to a three-point play by Goodrich.  Allegheny then outscored Hiram, 15-4, to regain the lead, 49-46, with 6:40 to go.  The Gators never trailed in the game again despite Hiram getting to within a point, 54-53, at the 3:16 mark.  Allegheny went on to lead by as many as nine points with the final score of 65-56.

Allegheny shot 28.8 percent (21-of-73) from the floor and was led in scoring by the duo of Emma Pellicano and Jessica Mrdjenovich who both scored 18 points.  Pellicano also grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds to record the double-double.  Marina Scarantino was the other Gator to score in double-figures with 13 points. 

Hiram finished the game shooting 38.6 percent (20-of-52) for the game and was led in scoring by Griffin with 18 points on six-of-13 shooting (46.2 percent).  Goodrich and junior guard Kelsey Koskinen (Madison) rounded out the high scorers for the Terriers with 11 points each.  In addition, senior guard Danielle Day (Newbury) grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds.

Hiram will remain on the road and will travel to Gambier for a NCAC game against Kenyon College on Saturday, Dec. 7.  The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.