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CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. (Feb. 28) - Playing without First-Team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference forward Taylor Mathers, the Bearcats were eliminated from the PAC Tournament with a 101-91 loss to Washington & Jefferson at Thomas More.

The loss ends the PAC portion of the Saint Vincent women's basketball team's season with an 18-9 record and marks the second-straight year that the third-seeded Presidents have eliminated the Bearcats. SVC will now await a bid to the ECAC Division III South Tournament, with the quarterfinals slated to begin on Wednesday, Mar. 5.

Three Bearcat freshmen combined for the first 15 points that SVC scored. Brianna Zajac tied the game, 2-2, at the 18:49-mark and then Mara Benvenuti put SVC ahead 5-2 with a three-pointer just under 18:00. Another Zajac jumper pushed the margin to 7-2.

Following a W&J bucket, Benvenuti posted a three-point play and Jasmine Weems knocked down a triple to put SVC ahead 13-6 with 3:13 elapsed, forcing a Presidents' time out.

With the Bearcats ahead one, 15-14, sophomore Drew Meeker hit a jumper extending the margin to three points and beginning a 12-5 run that eventually pushed the lead to a game-best eight points in favor of the Bearcats, 27-19, with 8:33 left in the half on a three-pointer by freshman Susie Ellis.

Later, an 8-2 run by W&J put the game within one point, 31-30, with 5:41 on the clock, but freshman Hannah Carroll knocked down a triple to put the margin back to four points with 5:27 remaining.

The two teams tied the score twice down the stretch of the second half, but three points from Zajac (a jumper at 2:01 and free throw with 31 seconds) to end the half sent SVC into the locker room with a 42-40 lead.

The first three baskets of the second half were three pointers, two by Saint Vincent (Elle Collins and Benvenuti) and one by W&J, giving SVC a five-point edge, 48-43, just 1:39 into the period.

After that, there would be two ties and three lead changes over the next six minutes until a Collins triple tied the game, 64-64, with 11:25 to play. W&J scored on their ensuing possession and Collins again answered with a layup and free throw to give the Bearcats their final lead, 67-66, with 10:57 left.

A 20-7 run by the Presidents pushed their lead to 12 points, 86-74, with 5:36 on the clock. The Bearcats cut the deficit to six points three separate times, but were unable to get closer, dropping the 101-91 decision.

Collins tied for the game high with 25 points, including 22 in the second half. Zajac posted a season high with 15 points and Benvenuti added 14 points. The freshman class accounted for 44 of SVC's 91 points.

In the contest, W&J shot 54.7 percent (29-of-53) from the field, compared to SVC's 46.3 percent (31-of-67). The Presidents also managed to make 88.4 percent of their 43 free throw attempts (38), while SVC converted 70.8 percent (17-of-24) at the line.

NOTES:
Following the game, Mathers was announced as a member of the All-PAC First Team, while Collins garnered Second-Team laurels.