Point Park improves to 6-3, 2-1 RSC with divisional win over Alice Lloyd (Ky.)

PITTSBURGH -- Point Park University women's basketball earned a big, divisional win over visiting Alice Lloyd (Ky.) College, 86-66, on Saturday. With the win, the Pioneers improved to 6-3 on the year and 2-1 RSC while handing the Eagles (6-3, 2-1 RSC) their first conference loss in the RSC East Division matchup. 

Point Park was holding on to a 41-39 lead at the half before pulling away with a big final 20 minutes. The Pioneers outscored Alice Lloyd, 45-27, the second half to win going away. 

Gillian Piccolino with 19 points and Gabriella Legister with 16 points and 13 rebounds led four Pioneers in double digits. Alexis Giles added 10 points, and Coral Homs produced 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench. 

Point Park turned up the offense and the defense the final two quarters to secure the win. The Pioneers shot 50 percent from the field and held Alice Lloyd to 33 percent (12 for 36) the second half. A dominating rebounding effort all day had the Pioneers win the glass, 52-33. 

Hannah Kash led all scorers with 41 points for Alice Lloyd. She had all 10 of the Eagles' points when she tied the game at 10-10 in the early going. She had 13 in the first quarter with Point Park holding on to a 19-16 lead after one. 

Legister had a basket and a foul for a 28-22 lead in the second quarter. Kash kept the Eagles connected down just two points at the break with 31 points in the first half. 

After Kash connected on 11 of 13 field goals with just two turnovers in the first half, things were different starting in third. The Pioneers limited her to 1-for-8 shooting and four turnovers in the third to turn the tide their way.

Legister put back a missed shot to cap off a 10-4 run out of halftime. Aichata Ballo stole the ball from Kash and raced coast to coast for a 62-52 lead after three. Kash started out 2 for 11 field goals the second half before making a couple of 3-pointers at the end. 

Point Park pushed the final margin to 20 points by winning the fourth quarter, 24-14. The Pioneers shot 54 percent overall and were 4 for 8 from deep in the final quarter. Piccolino's third and final trey of the day made the score 83-63 in the closing minutes. 

Point Park improved to 6-0 at home. It was the second Saturday in a row that the Pioneers notched an RSC East win. They will pick up RSC play again in January and currently stand in second place in the division behind No. 14-ranked Rio Grande (Ohio) at 3-0 RSC.

The Pioneers continue their December homestand by hosting Wilberforce (Ohio) for an NAIA, non-conference matchup on Thursday, Dec. 14 at 5:00 p.m.