Mara Benvenuti scored a team-high 20 points but Waynesburg earned a 79-63 win over the Saint Vincent women's basketball team at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse in Waynesburg.  

The Jackets raced out to a 7-0 lead behind a pair of three-pointers before Benvenuti used a pair of free throws to get SVC on the board. Waynesburg then added two more three-pointers to strengthen its advantage to 13-2 with 5:10 left in the opening period.

Saint Vincent finally made its first field goal of the game when Jasmine Weems made a layup with 4:25 to play in the first quarter, cutting the deficit to 14-6.

The Bearcats were able to close the quarter within a single-digit deficit at 18-10 despite shooting just 9.1 percent (2 of 22) in the first quarter.

A 6-0 run to start the second quarter brought SVC within a basket at 18-16, as Benvenuti scored four of the points. A three-pointer by Susie Ellis brought the Bearcats within a single point at 20-19 at the 6:29 mark of the quarter.

After a Waynesburg layup, Ellis dialed up another long-range basket to tie the game at 22-22 with 4:45 to play in the half. The Jackets built the lead back to 28-24 before Sanmartin converted a three-point play to close the half down a point at 28-27.

SVC shot just 17.1 percent in the first half (7-of-41) but its free throw shooting kept them in things, as SVC converted all 11 free throw attempts over the first 20 minutes. Meanwhile, Waynesburg cooled off in the second quarter and shot just 25.7 in the opening half.

However, the third quarter belonged to the Jackets, as they opened on a 17-1 run, pushing the edge to 47-28. SVC scored back-to-back baskets to draw within 15 at 47-32 midway through the quarter.

Waynesburg stopped the run with a pair of free throws, but SVC countered with eight straight points, including four free throws by Hannah Carroll. The run put the deficit back in single digits at 49-40.

However that is as close as the Bearcats would get. The Jackets scored the final three points of the quarter, taking a 52-40 lead into the final 10 minutes. Waynesburg maintained a double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter to earn the PAC victory.

Saint Vincent struggled from the field, shooting just 25.7 percent from the field, including just 5 of 26 from three-point range. SVC was successful at the free throw line, converting 20 of 21 free throws in the contest.

Meanwhile, Waynesburg shot 40.3 percent from the field and held a 53-37 advantage in rebounding.

Weems (14), Carroll (12) and Ellis (10) joined Benvenuti in double figures scoring. Benvenuti also had a team-best seven rebounds and four steals.

Addy Knetzer powered Waynesburg, posting a double-double performance of 25 points and 15 rebounds. 

The loss stopped the Bearcats four-game winning streak. SVC now sits at 7-5 overall and 2-3 in the PAC. Waynesburg improved to 5-7 overall and 3-2 in the league.

SVC travels to Grove City College on Saturday, Jan. 9 for another Presidents' Athletic Conference contest. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.