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HUNTINGDON, Pa. (Mar. 2) – Junior forward Devin McGrath established a new career high with 31 points, but it wasn't enough as the Saint Vincent women's basketball team fell to York (Pa.) in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Division III Tournament.
 
With the loss, the Bearcats end the season 22-7 after posting a 15-3 mark in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. York improves to 23-5 on the year and will play the winner of the Juniata/Castleton (Vt.) first-round game.
 
The Spartans quickly opened up a 7-3 lead two minutes into the game, with the Bearcat points coming on a three-pointer by senior guard Emily Fenton. At the 17:44-mark a layup by PAC Player of the Year Brittany Sedlock cut the lead to two points, 7-5, and another triple from Fenton gave SVC the lead, 8-7, with 17:10 to play in the half.
 
York answered back with four-straight points and then the two teams traded baskets until McGrath and Sedlock hit back-to-back layups to knot the game, 18-18, at the 11:43 mark.
 
After a pair of three-pointers helped the Spartans go ahead 28-22, six-straight points from McGrath (four points) and Sedlock (two points) tied the game with 7:27 remaining in the half. A three-pointer by York senior April Sparkman made it 31-28, by SVC answered with four points to take the lead back, 32-31 at the 4:55 mark.
 
Five points from Sedlock following Sparkman's fourth three-pointer of the half gave SVC its final lead of the game, 37-36, with 3:28 to play in the first half. The Spartans outscored the Bearcats, 7-1, over the final three-plus minutes of the opening period to take a 43-38 lead into halftime.
 
After the Fenton triple at the 17:10-mark, the final 30 Bearcat points of the half were scored by Sedlock and McGrath.
 
York stretched the lead to 12 points, 52-40, with a 9-2 run to start the second half. A Fenton jumper stopped the run before York scored five-straight points to stretch the lead to 15 points, 57-42, with 12:34 to play. A three-pointer by Kelley Sedlock cut the deficit to 12 points, 57-45, at the 12:15-mark, but York continued to shoot the ball well and SVC struggled from the field before eventually falling, 86-66.
 
McGrath led all players with 31 points and 14 rebounds while Sedlock also posted a double-double, her 16th of the season, finishing with 19 points and 11 boards. The rest of the Bearcats combined to score just 16 points, eight of which came from Fenton.
 
Kristen Haley led the Spartans with 25 points and 7 rebounds while Sparkman contributed 18 points, and Brittany Hicks chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds. Aja Wallpher, who entered the game ranked first in the nation in assists, registered a double-double with 13 points and 11 assists, four more than her season average.
 
York connected on 53.7 percent (29-of-54) from the field, including 55.6 percent (15-of-27) from the floor in the first half. SVC finished 38.1 percent (24-of-63) on field goals after sinking 51.7 percent (15-of-29) in the first half.
 
The Spartans made nine three-pointers of 21 tries for 42.9 percent while SVC shot an abysmal 17.9 percent (5-of-28) from beyond-the-arc. York also had 22 assists on their 29 baskets while SVC added 10 helpers on 24 hoops.
 
Behind the 25 rebounds from McGrath and Sedlock the Bearcats held a five-rebound edge, 36-31, for the game.