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With weekend wins over Point Park University and Carlow University, the Alice Lloyd Lady Eagles have taken over the Number One ranking in the conference.

 

January 4th

ALC 63

Point Park Lady Pioneers 57

Point Park made the long trek from Pittsburgh, PA, sporting a gaudy 12-2 record and 6-1 conference mark. However, their one conference blemish was on their home floor at the hands of the Lady Eagles in December. Since then, they had won 8 consecutive contests and were looking forward to avenging their defeat.

In the first half, both clubs showed the effects of the Christmas layoff as they each had trouble finding the rim. In a defensive battle, the hosts pulled out to a 27-19 lead by intermission.

In the second half, the Pioneers began to cut into the deficit and mounted their comeback. When guard Katresa Savisky sank a jumper with 9:20 remaining, Point Park had their first lead (43-41).

On their next possession, Eagles’ sharpshooter JJ Hickson drained a bomb to give ALC the lead (44-43). Over the next minute, Alice Lloyd’s Carla Booth sank two free throws and then had a steal and layup to put the hosts up by five (48-43).

Booth scans the Point Park defense.

Both teams traded possessions and buckets over the next five minutes, but when Lady Eagle Ariel Nickell sank a contested jumper in the paint, the lead grew to eight (60-52).

Point Park refused to quit and scored the next five points to reduce the lead down to three (60-57). After getting a stop on defense with just 32 seconds left on the clock, the Pioneers came down the floor looking for the tie.

With the game on the line, ALC’s Nickell came up with a huge steal and attacked the goal looking for two points. Her shot fell off the rim, but was hauled down by teammate Carla McDaniel. McDaniel was hammered on the put back, but maintained body control to sink the short jumper. When she swished her charity toss with 24 seconds remaining, the ALC lead was suddenly six and the threat was essentially over.

For the Eagles (9-6; 3-1 KIAC), Booth played excellent as she swished in 24 points on 5-10 field goals; this total includes 4-8 from long range. She also added 4 steals and 4 assists.

She received double-figure help from Hickson with 14 points and Nickell with 12. McDaniel added 9.

For Point Park (12-3), Savisky tossed in 24.

 


January 5th

ALC 86

Carlow Lady Celtics 72

Ariel Nickell tossed in 25 points to pace Alice Lloyd to their second win over a Pittsburgh school in as many days.

Carlow defenders try to prevent Nickell from scoring.

In the first half, Nickell kept her squad ahead as she tossed in 19 of her points. At the half, the hosts led 44-39.

In the second half, Lady Eagle guards JJ Hickson, Carla Booth, Lacinda Hack, and forward Haley Smith caught fire and joined Nickell in helping ALC increase their lead to 17 points (65-48). The Lady Celtics fought valiantly and reduced the lead to ten points, but that was as close as they would get.

For the victors (10-6; 4-1 KIAC), Nickell led all scorers with 25 points, while Hickson tossed in 20. Booth and Smith added 17 and 11 points, respectively.

Carlow (6-10; 2-7 KIAC) was led by Chanel Berry with 23 points.

With the two wins, Alice Lloyd now is in sole possession of first place in the conference.

The current standings are as follows:

School

KIAC

Overall

GB

Streak

Alice Lloyd

4-1

.800

10-6

.625

0.0

Won 3

Point Park

6-3

.667

12-4

.750

0.0

Lost 2

Brescia

4-2

.667

9-4

.692

0.5

Won 1

Asbury

3-2

.600

13-6

.684

1.0

Won 2

Midway

2-3

.400

4-11

.267

2.0

Lost 1

IU Southeast

1-3

.250

8-7

.533

2.5

Won 1

Carlow

2-7

.222

6-10

.375

4.0

Lost 4

SLCOP

0-0

.000

1-6

.143

1.5

Lost 5

Berea

0-1

.000

4-10

.286

2.0

Lost 3

The Lady Eagles next face the Lady Mountaineers of Berea College on Tuesday, January 8th. Tip-off is at 6 PM at ALC’s Grady Nutt Athletic Center.