BOX SCORE

HUNTINGDON, Pa. (Dec. 30) - The Bearcats used a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures to post their second win of the season against Juniata, an 81-78 victory in the consolation game of the Comfort Inn Holiday Tournament.

The win improves SVC to 6-4 on the season, and marks three-straight wins for the Bearcats against Juniata, dating back to a 66-62 victory in Huntingdon last December. SVC has won the three contests by an average of three points apiece. The Eagles fall to 5-4 on the year, after beginning the season 5-0 and earning a No. 21 ranking in the D3hoops.com poll.

The hosts opened up a 4-0 lead to start the game, but SVC responded with a 7-0 run that included five points from junior guard Elle Collins. The two teams played back-and-forth basketball for most of the first half and with 8:01 remaining in the period, Juniata took a 27-25 lead on a three-pointer by Jordan Hileman. The Bearcats responded with a 9-0 run over two minutes that included a three-pointer by Collins and six points from senior forward Taylor Mathers, opening up a 34-27 lead with 5:47 to play.

After an Eagles jumper ended the run, freshman Kayla Stockenus and Mathers each scored to push the lead out to nine points, 38-29. Juniata then scored six-straight points to make it a three-point game, 38-35, with 2:53 remaining in the half, but SVC closed the half on a 7-2 spurt, including the second three-pointer of the half by sophomore guard Drew Meeker, to send the Bearcats to a 45-37 halftime lead.

Saint Vincent scored the first eight points of the second period to open up a 16-point lead with 17:42 to go in the game. Collins notched a three-pointer nine seconds into the half and junior guard Ally Schmidt converted a three-point play after a steal to push the lead to 14. Mathers capped the run with a layup and SVC led 53-37.

Juniata responded in a big way, using a 13-0 run to cut the SVC margin to three points, 53-50, with 13:32 to play. Sophomore guard Jillian Kegg ended the run with a three-pointer to put the lead back to six, 56-50, with 13:28 remaining. A 9-2 run for the hosts, however, would give Juniata its first lead since early in the opening half as the score stood at 59-58 with 11:54 to play.

A Kegg layup with 11:37 to play jump started a 7-0 run that she capped off with a three-pointer with 8:46 left.

The two teams traded baskets for the majority of the rest of the game, but SVC never lost the lead, thanks to three free throws in the final 26 seconds, prevailing, 81-78.

SVC had a much better shooting performance on Monday compared to Sunday's loss to DeSales, finishing 29-of-56 (51.8 percent) from the floor, thanks to a 17-of-30 (56.7 percent) showing in the first half. After making just 4-of-15 (26.7 percent) three-pointers in the first half, the Bearcats nailed five-of-nine (55.6 percent) in the final 20 minutes to finish the game 9-of-24 (37.5 percent). All while holding Juniata to just 17.2 percent (5-of-29) from beyond-the-arc, including 0-of-10 in the second half.

Collins led SVC with 16 points, including four three-pointers. The senior also pulled in five rebounds. Mathers finished with 14 points, six rebounds and five blocks, and Meeker posted a career-high 14 points, thanks to three triples. Schmidt totaled 13 points, seven rebounds and two steals in the win.

SVC returns to action and Presidents' Athletic Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, hosting Grove City at 1 p.m. in the Carey Center. The Bearcats have won 11-straight against the Wolverines, dating back to Feb. 20, 2008, a 62-57 win at home.