LATROBE, Pa. (Nov. 30) – The Saint Vincent women's basketball team rode a stout defense and a balanced offense to defeat Presidents' Athletic Conference foe Waynesburg University 66-50 in the Robert S. Carey Student Center.

Madison Weber scored 14 points to lead three Bearcats (4-2, 3-1 PAC) in double figures, while the SVC defense limited the Yellow Jackets (0-6, 0-4 PAC) to just 29 percent from the field and forced 22 turnovers. Leading by three points after the first quarter, the Bearcats used a big second frame to pull away for the win.

Weber's 14 points came on an efficient 6-for-8 mark from the foul line, while she also added a team-high five assists and grabbed five rebounds. Weber was one of five SVC players to score at least eight points, with Emily Cavacini scoring 12, Ella Marconi 10, Emily Thompson nine and Camdon Bahor a career-high eight. Marconi also paced Saint Vincent with eight rebounds, while Bashor was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and blocked two shots. The Saint Vincent defense totaled 13 steals on the evening, led by four from Alana Winkler.

The Bearcats got off to a fast start, jumping out to a 9-4 lead on a left-wing three-pointer from Cavacini four minutes into the first quarter. The Yellow Jackets chipped away at the deficit, eventually making it a one-point game, 15-14, with 1:19 remaining, before a Marconi layup off of an offensive put-back gave SVC a 17-14 lead after 10 minutes of play.

A three-pointer by Reese Gadsby put SVC in front 20-14 with 9:05 left in the second quarter and the Bearcat lead would continue to grow. A driving layup from Cavacini at the midpoint of the quarter put SVC in front 25-16, before Marconi and Weber connected on layups 20 seconds apart to push the score to 29-16 with just inside four minutes left. The lead would eventually grow to 16, 32-16, on an inside basket from Bashor, before the 'Jackets scored the final bucket of the half to make the score 32-18 at the break. Over the decisive second quarter, Saint Vincent outscored Waynesburg 15-4, with the 'Jackets shooting just 2-for-11 from the field.

Thompson scored six points in the first four minutes of the second half to help open up a 42-23 lead, and after the teams traded baskets over the next several minutes, SVC closed the quarter on a 10-2 run, with six points from Weber and four from Bashor, to take a 54-30 lead into the final frame.

The lengthy run extended into the fourth quarter, with Jillian Mannarino connecting on a three and Diana Mosten scoring on a driving layup within a 25-second span to give SVC its largest lead of the night, 59-32, with 9:07 left in regulation and effectively seal the victory.

Fueled by the frontcourt combo of Weber, Marconi and Bashor, the Bearcats held a sizeable 38-20 advantage in points in the paint. Saint Vincent had a 13-3 advantage in fast-break points, while the Bearcats scored 25 points off of Yellow Jacket turnovers.

Avery Robinson led Waynesburg with 19 points, while Anika Dansby totaled seven points and eight rebounds.

The Bearcats will be back on action on Saturday, Dec. 3, traveling to PAC rival Washington & Jefferson College for a 1 p.m. matinee.