PHOTO GALLERY

In a game that went right down to the final buzzer, Saint Vincent lost to Gettysburg College in the second round of the SVC Basketball Classic, by a score of 72-71.
 
The Bearcats took their first lead of the day on a Jenna Lafko jumper just over 90 seconds into play, then a Paige Montrose steal led to a score by Madison Kollar to put SVC in front, 6-3. 
 
After the Bullets scored five points to take an 8-6 lead, Saint Vincent rallied for a 7-0 run, started by a three from Lafko, followed by four points from Kayla Slovenec.
 
The visitors then battled back, taking a 17-15 lead with just under two minutes remaining in the quarter, but SVC ended the quarter with five points, on another three from Lafko and a jumper by Slovenec, to lead 20-17 at the end of the first.
 
SVC increased the lead to as high as six, 25-19, after a pair of Lafko steals set up four more points from Slovenec early in the second.  Gettysburg then stormed back with an 8-0 run of its own to take a 27-25 lead with 5:36 left in the second, forcing SVC to take a timeout.  After the stoppage, Kollar and Carlee Kilgus combined for seven straight points, putting SVC back in front, 32-27.
 
However, once again the visitors fought back, as SVC took a 34-33 lead into the halftime break.
 
The first part of the third quarter belonged to Gettysburg, as they opened a 7-point lead, 46-39, with 5:28 left in the quarter, before a Kilgus three from the corner gave the Bearcats some momentum.  Lafko the followed with a three of her own to make it a one-point game, 46-45.
 
After Gettysburg ran the lead back to four (53-49), an Erin Giancola steal led to a conventional three-point play by Bri Van Volkenburg to cut the deficit to just one at the end of the third, 53-52.
 
The Bearcats took the lead at the 5:40 mark of the fourth quarter on another conventional three-point play, this one by Giancola, to make it 60-58 in favor of the hosts.  Kilgus then found Van Volkenburg alone under the net for a score less than 30 seconds later, putting SVC up by four.
 
A minute later, a jumper by Kollar put SVC up by six (66-60), and Paige Montrose followed with a steal and a foul, hitting both shots to extend the lead to 8. 
 
The Bullets' Ashley Gehrin, already having a strong game, then took control, scoring six consecutive points to make it 68-66, and Kiera Cesareo followed with a three to give Gettysburg a 69-68 lead with 1:23 to go.
 
Van Volkenburg drew a foul and hit one shot to tie the game, then after a missed shot by Gettysburg, SVC took possession with 34 seconds left.  Lafko drove the lane with 9.8 seconds left and drew a foul, hitting both shots to put SVC up 71-69. 
 
The Bullets called a timeout, advancing the ball into the front court.  Christina Richson hit a three with 5.1 ticks remaining to give Gettysburg a 72-71 lead, and SVC quickly took a timeout of its own. 
 
SVC had an opportunity to win the game but was unable to get a shot to fall, losing by a point.
 
Lafko led the Bearcats with 19 points, while Kollar added 14 and Slovenec had 10.  A trio of Bearcats – Kilgus, Giancola and Lafko – each had 6 rebounds, while Kilgus also had 6 assists. 
 
Gehrin, who was named Tournament MVP, had 37 points.
 
SVC will be back in action on December 29-30 in the D3Hoops.com Classic, taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
 
SVC Women's Basketball Classic All-Tournament Team
Brockport: #5 Bailey Pratt (Sr., Guard)
Hartwick: #12 Maggie Kirby (So., Guard)
Gettysburg: #21 Ashley Gehrin (Sr., Guard)
Saint Vincent: #3 Jenna Lafko (Jr., Guard)
Saint Vincent: #45 Madison Kollar (Jr., Forward)
 
SVC Women's Basketball Classic MVP
Gettysburg: #21 Ashley Gehrin (Sr., Guard)