MARIETTA, Ohio (Nov. 17) - The Saint Vincent women's basketball team lost its first game of the season on the road against Marietta College, 69-53.
 
The Bearcats fall to 1-1 on the season, while Marietta improves to a perfect 3-0.
 
Junior Ella Marconi led the Bearcats with a game-high 11 points and added a team-high nine rebounds. Sophomore Alana Winkler added 10 points for the Bearcats while grabbing seven rebounds. Lizzie Bender tallied nine points and Emily Cavacini added eight.
 
The Bearcats led for the majority of the first quarter. After a three-pointer for Autumn Fennell, the Bearcats found themselves with a 10-5 lead. Marietta fought back, as they closed the final 3:27 of the first quarter on a 6-0 run to gain an 11-10 lead heading to the second quarter, and it was a lead they would not lose the entire contest.
 
Marietta took control in the second quarter. The Pioneers took a 23-14 lead when the Bearcats went on a quick 5-0 run after two free throws from Marconi and a three pointer from Lauren Gamble, making the score 23-19. Marietta would then close out the half with an 8-3 run, giving them a 31-22 advantage at halftime.
 
The third quarter was back and forth. Marietta increased their lead to 12 early in the quarter, but the Bearcats climbed back into the game, cutting the lead to just five at 38-33 after a layup by Gamble. The Pioneers bounced back, ending the quarter outscoring the Bearcats 9-4 to bring 47-37 lead into the fourth and final quarter.
 
The Pioneers outscored the Bearcats 22-16 in the final frame, though the Bearcats shot 50 percent from the field over for the quarter.
 
Neither team shot the ball well, as the Bearcats shot 38 percent from the field and Marietta 39 percent. The difference in the game was from beyond the three-point line. The Pioneers shot 37 percent (10-for-27) from three-point range, while limiting the Bearcats to just 3-for-12.  Marietta slightly out-rebounded the Bearcats 42-37.
 
Saint Vincent will be back in action on Friday, Nov. 19 ,when they travel to the Messiah College Tournament. The Bearcats will take on host Messiah, ranked fifth in the most recent D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, in the first round of the tournament on Friday. They will then play either DeSales or Gwynedd Mercy in the championship or consolation game on Saturday, Nov. 20.