LATROBE, Pa. (Feb. 22)- The Saint Vincent women's basketball team used strong defense and clutch offense to pull out a tight 57-52 victory over Grove City in their regular season finale on Saturday afternoon.
The Bearcats (13-12, 12-8 PAC) struggled on offense for a lot of the game but they were able to lean on their defense to always keep Grove City (15-10, 13-7 PAC) within striking distance until they were able to pull ahead in the fourth quarter.
Camdon Bashor was the star of the show for the Bearcats in this one. She scored 18 points on 5-9 shooting to go along with 14 rebounds, three assists, a staggering six blocks, and two steals including the game winning steal and score late in the fourth quarter. Besides her, Makenna Maier had a strong game. She scored 13 points on 4-5 shooting and grabbed seven boards.
Both teams got off to a slow start in this one, combining to shoot 5-17 over the first five minutes of the game. Grove City was able to knock down two threes to Saint Vincents none, helping give them the edge, 8-6.
From here the Bearcats offense found some life, going 4-7 to finish out the quarter and take a 17-14 lead into the second quarter. They made it a point to attack the basket hard and used that to find buckets inside or spray it out to shooters. Their defense also stepped it up, holding Grove City to 2-7 shooting over the same span.
Grove City started the second quarter nearly perfect on offense, shooting 4-5 over the first five minutes including 3-3 from deep. The Bearcats did their best to keep up, playing with nice flow on offense and shooting 4-7 from the field in the span, but they could not keep up fully with the Grove City three point barrage. They used this run to take a 27-25 lead with five minutes to play in the half.
From here both offenses slowed down combining to shoot 3-13 for the rest of the quarter. Saint Vincent especially hit a rough patch. They shot just 1-6 from the field and had three turnovers. Grove City was able to use those extra opportunities to take a 33-28 lead into halftime.
The Bearcats shot 50% from the field in the quarter with 4 four threes. Despite the hot shooting Saint Vincent only found themselves down five at halftime.
Saint Vincent came out ice cold to start the third quarter, shooting 0-5 over the first three and a half minutes. Grove City struggled as well, but they were able to extend their lead to 37-28.
From there the Bearcats flipped a switch. Over the next four minutes the Bearcats went perfect from the field, scoring a quick 14 points on 6-6 shooting. They powered this run on defense, holding Grove City to just one field goal attempt over this span thanks to causing three turnovers. This run captured the lead for the Bearcats at 42-39.
Over the final couple minutes of the quarter both teams got sloppy with turnovers and there was not much scoring, with the Bearcats leading 44-41 heading into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter was an intense back and forth affair with the game staying within one possession until the very end.
The defensive intensity really increased this quarter and with that brought more fouls. After trading free throws for a couple minutes Grove City broke through with a layup to take a 48-46 lead with about eight minutes to play.
Over the next three minutes that defensive intensity showed its face again with both teams going scoreless. The turnover problem returned for the Bearcats as they lost the ball three times resulting in only getting two field goal attempts in this span. Despite those extra opportunities Grove City did not fair any better as they desperately held on to their two point lead.
Finally, a pair of Bashor free throws with about five minutes to play broke the drought and tied the game at 48-48. After the free throws Bashor jumped a passing lane, getting a steal and an easy score to give the Bearcats a 50-48 lead.
After another small drought Grove City took the ball hard inside and got the line, tying the game at 50-50 after hitting both free throws with four minutes to play.
Janay Rissmiller was able to get inside and hit a layup to give the lead back to Saint Vincent but about a minute later Grove City hit a jumper to tie it back up with about two minutes to go.
After trading turnovers Brooke Evans was able to score inside to give the Bearcats the lead back and after another Grove City miss they got the ball back and got to the free throw line with the chance to extend their lead. Unfortunately they missed both free throws leaving the door open for Grove City with just above one minute to play.
Grove City ran some great screening action to free up Mara Polczynksi heading towards the basket and while she could not convert the layup she got fouled and headed to line with a chance to tie things up. She went 0-2 at the line and Bashor secured the rebound for Saint Vincent with 50 seconds to go.
From there they dribbled the clock for a while before Brooke Evans drove hard to the basket and got fouled. With another chance to make this a two possession game the Bearcats once again missed both free throws, keeping the score at 54-52 with 25 seconds to play.
Grove City ran another great set to find an open shooter in the corner, but they once again could not knock down the open look. After securing the rebound Makenna Maier was sent to the line where she split the pair, making it a 55-52 Saint Vincent lead with 12 second left.
After a Saint Vincent foul to give Grove City had the ball down three with five seconds left. They looked to shoot quick off the in bounds but their three point attempt was wide right. Bashor secured the rebound and hit both of her free throw attempts after an intentional foul. There was just no time left for Grove City to do anything and the Bearcats won 57-52.
Prior to the game, the Bearcats had senior day festivities honoring student manager Kelly Benson, along with Diana Mosten and Emily Thompson.
Saint Vincent has locked up the number five seed in next week's PAC playoffs. The Bearcats will travel to Grove City for a quarterfinal matchup against the Wolverines on Tuesday, February 25 at a time to be determined.
