LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Dec 29)- The Saint Vincent women's basketball team breezed to an 81-54 win against SUNY Canton in their first of two games in Las Vegas on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Bearcats (5-5, 4-2 PAC) quickly opened to a 26-12 lead after one quarter and never looked back. They outscored the Kangaroos (3-3, 0-1 SUNYAC) 20-10 in the second quarter and 35-32 in the second half to cruise to the 27-point victory.
 
Makenna Maier led Saint Vincent with a game-high 20 points and 13 rebound double-double. Emily Thompson and Danielle Pontius both scored in double figures as well with 14 and 13 points respectively. Thompson also grabbed eight rebounds, whole Pontius grabbed four of her own and dished out five assists.
 
Camdon Bashor and Kate Bollinger both added eight points for the Bearcats, while Reese Gadsby grabbed seven rebounds and dished out six assists.
 
It was a big start for the Bearcats in the opening quarter. Saint Vincent shot an impressive 48% from the field in the quarter to open up to a quick 14-point lead (26-12). Out of the gates, Saint Vincent quickly opened up to a 10-2 lead, helped two three-pointers from Maier, who totaled 11 points in the quarter.
 
SVC remained strong on both ends, closing the quarter out with a 16-10 spurt to take the double-digit lead into the second quarter.
 
The strong play continued for Saint Vincent in the second quarter. The Bearcats opened the quarter up on a 10-4 run to increase their lead to 20 at 36-16 about halfway through the quarter.
 
It was much of the same in the last five minutes of the half as well as Saint Vincent outscored SUNY Canton by a 10-6 margin to hold a 46-22 lead at the half.
 
The Bearcats shot an impressive 49% (19-39) from the field in the half, including going 5-10 from beyond the arc. The Saint Vincent defense limited SUNY Canton to shoot just 29% (10-38) and 2-17 from beyond the arc in the half, while they also forced eight turnovers, scoring 11 points off of those turnovers.
 
It was all Saint Vincent in the second half as well. SVC's lead remained in double-digits for the entirety of the second half as well. The Bearcats outscored the Kangaroos 35-32 in the second half to breeze to the double-digit victory out west.
 
SVC shot 43% (34-79) from the field in the win, while also shooting 10-28 (36%) from beyond the arc as well. The Bearcats scored 36 points in the paint and 16 points off of 13 SUNY Canton turnovers as well.
 
SUNY Canton shot just 29% from the field and 18% from beyond the arc in the game.
 
Saint Vincent will conclude their trip to Las Vegas with a matchup against Redlands tomorrow, Monday, December 30. Tip-off in Las Vegas is scheduled for 12 p.m. PST/3:00 p.m. EST.