GRANTHAM, Pa. (Nov. 19) – The Saint Vincent women's basketball team was defeated 66-42 on the road by nationally-ranked Messiah on the opening night of the Messiah College Tournament.

The Bearcats fall to 1-2 on the young season, while Messiah improves to 3-1.
 
Five Bearcats led the offense with six points apiece (Taylor Geer, Emily Cavacini, Ella Marconi, Lizzie Bender and Anna Betz). Marconi grabbed six rebounds while senior Lauren Gamble grabbed five boards and sophomore Alana Winkler four. Marconi also finished with a team-high two steals and two blocked shots.   
 
After Marconi scored the game's first bucket a minute in, the Falcons quickly grabbed the lead, eventually opening up an 18-6 advantage after the opening 10 minutes.
 
In the opening stages of the second quarter, the Bearcats went on a quick 5-0 run, with back-to-back jumpers from Winkler and Geer making the score 19-11. Messiah would charge back to close out the half with a 32-18 advantage.
 
Messiah increased its lead to 18 early in the third quarter before SVC chipped away to twice cut the deficit to 14, first on a jumper in the paint from Bender with 4:53 left before a Betz three-pointer made it 46-32 with just inside two minutes left. The Falcons scored the final points of the quarter to take a 48-32 into the final frame.
 
The hosts would pull away over the final 10 minutes, out-scoring SVC 18-10 and limiting the Bearcats to just four fourth-quarter field goals.
 
Neither team shot the ball well, as the Bearcats shot 31 percent from the field and Messiah 44 percent. The difference in the game was from the free throw line, where the Falcons shot 78 percent (11-for-14) compared to the Bearcats' 4-14 mark.  The Bearcats slightly out-rebounded Messiah, 37-35.
 
Saint Vincent will be back in action on Saturday, Nov. 20, in the final day of the Messiah College Tournament, facing Gwynedd Mercy in the consolation game. Tip-off is slated for 1:00 p.m.