The Saint Vincent women's basketball team defeated Bethany College by a score of 90-72 in the Carey Center to improve to 9-1 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.
 
After winning the tipoff, Saint Vincent went right down the court to score their first points of the game within the first fifteen seconds on a layup by Taylor Mathers.  Shortly after the Bearcats' scored, Bethany drove right down the court to make it 2-2.
 
The game remained close until the 16:54 mark, when SVC went on a 9-point run consisting of a trio three- pointers. Jill Kegg, Mara Benvenuti, and Jessica Welch each hit threes that gave the Bearcats a 17-13 lead.
 
Four minutes later, the Bearcats found themselves with a 10-point lead.  Following several more scores, the Bearcats were up 25-15 with still 10: 03 left to play in the half. 
 
SVC's Drew Meeker then stole the ball and drove down the court to put in a layup that increased the lead to 27-15.
 
Nearing halftime, the Bearcats continued to increase their lead.  Following a Bethany timeout, the Bison went on to score and cut the lead to 29-17.  However, SVC came back quicky and went on a 7-point run to make the score 36-17 with 7:12 remaining in the half.
 
After a series of fouls by each team, Bevenuti hit a three with 3:34 remaining followed by a two-point shot by Ally Schmidt to increase the lead to 45-24 just before the half.  At the half the score was 49-32 Saint Vincent.
 
Saint Vincent opened the second half with a layup by Benvenuti, before Bethany started to cut into the deficit.  The Bison cut the Bearcats' lead to 56-42 just before the Bearcats decided to call a timeout.  Following the timeout, Welch added two more points to the board, which led to a Bethany timeout.
 
The Bison continued to fight and cut the gap to 12, but Benvenuti soon stole a pass which set up Shalia Williams for a layup to further the Bearcats' lead.  SVC continued to increase the advantage in the game's closing minutes, en route to an 18-point victory.
 
Schmidt led the Bearcats with 13 points, while Kegg and Benvenuti added 12 each.  Schdmit had a team-high 7 rebounds to go along with 5 assists. 
 
Kelsea Daugherty of Bethany led all scorers on the day with 24 points.  Bethany falls to 8-9 overall, 4-6 in the PAC.
 
The Bearcats will return to action on Wednesday (January 28), hosting Chatham University at 6PM in the Carey Center.