CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (Nov. 20) - Jasmine Weems scored a career-high 23 points as the Saint Vincent women's basketball team downed DeSales 67-58 in the DeSalesTournament Championship game of the Morgan Stanley Tip-off Tournament.
Both teams got off to a slow start offensively, as DeSales held a narrow 4-2 lead at the 6:03 mark of the first quarter. Saint Vincent took its first and only lead of the first half when senior guard Jasmine Weems connected on a three-pointer, making the score 5-4.
The host Bulldogs then went on a 10-0 run to take a 14-5 edge, capped with a layup with 2:35 left in the quarter. Junior forward Babette Sanmartin finally stopped the run by banking in a three-pointer from the top of the key.
DeSales connected on a three-pointer with less than a minute remaining in the quarter, extending its lead to double digits for the first time, at 22-12.
Trailing 27-15 at the 6:12 mark of the second quarter, SVC went on a 7-0 run to draw within five points (27-22). The run was aided by a pair of field goals from Sanmartin and a triple from senior guard Susie Ellis.
DeSales worked its edge back to double figures at 34-22 with 2:56 left in the half. However, Saint Vincent finished the first half on a 9-0 run, which included seven points from senior guard Mara Benvenuti.
Saint Vincent was out-rebounded 25-13 in the first half but forced the Bulldogs into 13 turnovers while committing just four turnovers of their own.
After a 5-0 spurt by DeSales to start the third quarter gave the Bulldogs a 39-31 lead. Saint Vincent responded with an 11-0 run to take their first lead since the early stages of the contest. The run included a pair of three's by Weems, including the go ahead trey with 5:50 left in the quarter. DeSales ended the lengthy run with a two-point field goal but the Bearcats closed the quarter on a 6-2 spurt to take a 48-43 lead into the fourth.
Saint Vincent opened up the fourth quarter with four straight points, including a layup by Maria Morgan to extend the lead to 52-43 with 7:22 to play.
That is when DeSales clamped down defensively and went to work on a comeback, using a 10-5 run to climb to within 57-53 with 2:52 to play.
Weems then knocked down a dagger three to extend the lead 60-53 with 2:42 to play. DeSales came right back with a three pointer of its own but couldn't get any closer and the Bearcats closed out the game at the line.
Along with the career-high in points, Weems added seven rebounds, five assists and four steals as she was named DeSales Tournament Most Valuable Player honors. Benvenuti also was tabbed All-Tournament team after adding 18 points in the victory. Sanmartin finished with 15 points.
Saint Vincent forced DeSales into 27 turnovers, marking the third straight game of forcing their opponent into 20+ turnovers. The differential helped SVC overcome a 46-30 deficit on the boards. Saint Vincent made 10 of 24 three pointers.
DeSales, who was among "others receiving votes" in the preseason D3hoops.com Poll, fell to 2-1 for the season. Meanwhile, the Bearcats improved to 2-1 in 2016-17.
Saint Vincent returns to action when they host nationally-ranked Carnegie Mellon for the Bearcats' home opener on Saturday, Nov. 26. Start time at the Carey Center is slated for 2 p.m.