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The SVC women's basketball team posted a convincing 73-50 victory over visiting Pfeiffer University in the first round of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Tournament.

With the win, the Bearcats advance to face New York University on Friday (March 2) at 11AM in Washington, PA.

Four Bearcats scored in double figures, led by Babette Sanmartin and Taylor Boring (11 points each), while Paige Montrose and Maria Morgan each scored 10.

Morgan got the Bearcats started with four straight points at the outset of the game.  A layup by Montrose and a three Mara Benvenuti gave the hosts a 9-0 lead at the 6:48 mark of the first quarter.

Over the next two minutes, the Falcons came back to make it a three-point game, 12-9, but the Bearcats then went on a 6-0 run, which included four points from Montrose, to extend the lead to 18-9.  

SVC scored six straight points to start the second quarter, with a three from Boring making it a 24-10 game just over two minutes into the quarter.  After a score by Pfeiffer, SVC once again took control, as Kiara Arnold scored four points and Carlee Kilgus added two, giving the Bearcats a 30-12 lead just past the midway point of the second quarter.

The Bearcats continued to maintain a solid lead until the break, taking a 39-24 advantage into the locker room.

Halfway through the third, Morgan hit a three to make the score 46-29.  The Bearcats later went on a 9-point run, with Boring tallying back-to-back threes, followed by a three from Bri Van Volkenburg that made it 56-33.

In the fourth, the Bearcats started feeding the ball inside to Sanmartin, who had four straight points as part of a 7-0 SVC run, and the Bearcats went on to win by 23 points.

Benvenuti was the game's top rebounder with 10, while Montrose had 7.  For Pfeiffer, Dajea Scott had a game-high 14 points while Grayson Harris had 9 rebounds.

For SVC coach Jimmy Petruska, it was career victory #150 in his eighth season at the helm of the Bearcats.

The Bearcats are now 19-9 overall on the year, while Pfeiffer finishes at 20-5.