The Saint Vincent women's basketball team defeated Chatham by a score of 84-59 in a Presidents' Athletic Conference matchup in the Carey Center.

After Shalia Williams won the tipoff for SVC, both Saint Vincent and Chatham began the game with a slow offensive start.  The first points of the game were scored at the 19:35 mark by Chatham to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead.  It took two minutes before another basket was made, as the game was tied by a basket fromWilliams.  Shortly after, Chatham worked their way back down the court and were able to put three points up on the board giving the Cougars a 5-2 advantage.
 
Two minutes after Chatham took a three-point lead, SVC began a nine-point run to turn the game around.  Thanks to four consecutive points by Mara Benvenuti, a three-pointer put in by Jessica Welch, and a basket from Jasmine Weems, the Bearcats took a 11-5 lead and never trailed the remainder of the game.
 
Exactly two minutes after Chatham ended SVC's 9-point run, the Bearcats went on to score six more straight points.  First, Weems dribbled into the paint to capitalize on a layup, followed by two-point shots by both Welch and Drew Meeker.
 
Chatham was then able to score and eventually narrow the deficit to 28-17 with 4:48 remaining.  However, SVC immediately went on a 14-point run.  Williams started the run by connecting on a free throw, while Ally Schmidt put up six points.  Meeker also contributed five points.  The final basket of SVC's run was a jumper by Welch with 30.5 seconds remaining.
 
Chatham ended the Bearcats' run with 8.5 ticks left, exiting the half with a score of 42-19, Saint Vincent.
 
Entering the second half with the ball, Chatham made an attempt to come back; however, they were never able to close the gap.
 
After maintaining a substantial lead throughout the game, SVC had total control.  Up 68-38, the Bearcats went on another run beginning with 10 minutes remaining.  After Weems stole the ball from a Cougar, Brittany Beckwith connected with a basket to begin another Bearcats tear.  Beckwith also put in a free throw, and added a block on defense, which held SVC's run in check.  Maggie Kimmich also added a point off of a free throw during the run to give the Bearcats a 74-38 lead.
 
Chatham was able to score fourteen more points within the remaining five minutes of the game, but SVC put up ten more points of their own before holding onto the ball for the last 21 seconds to win the game with a final score of 84-59.
 
SVC advances to an overall record of 16-2 and a PAC record of 10-1, while Chatham is now 5-13 overall and 2-9 in the PAC.
 
Welch led the Bearcats in points, scoring 14.  Beckwith added a career-high 12, all, in the second half, while both Schmidt and Meeker put up 10.  Welch also led all players in steals, finishing the game with four.  Hannah Carroll, Jill  Kegg and Kiara Arnold each grabbed five rebounds for the Bearcats. 

Chatham had four players score in double figures, led by Rachel McClain with 14.  

SVC will next travel to Geneva College on Saturday (January 31), tipoff will be at 1PM.