Behind strong performances from Mara Benvenuti, Jasmine Weems and Maria Morgan, Saint Vincent defeated Juniata College by a score of 73-64 in their final non-conference tuneup at the Carey Center.

Weems tallied 17 points on the day, while Benvenuti had 16 rebounds, 8 points and four steals.  Morgan, a freshman, had a breakout game iwth 9 points and 8 rebounds.  

Babette Sanmartin got the Bearcats started with 4 quick points to open the game.  The score was tied 9-9 when Hannah Carroll hit a jumper from the baseline to put SVC in front at the 3:59 mark of the first quarter, but the Bearcats trailed 13-11 when Morgan took control, scoring on an underhand layup, followed by another layup and a three-pointer, putting SVC in front 18-16 with 52 seconds left in the quarter.  A pair of Benvenuti free throws ended the first quarter scoring with SVC in front 20-16.

Sanmartin again commanded the early part of the quarter, scoring five points to put SVC in front 25-19.  A Carroll three ran the lead to eight (30-22) with 6:05 left.  

At the 2:45 mark, a pair of shots from the charity stripe for the Eagles made the score 33-30, but Brianna McLaughlin drove through the lane and scored to make it 35-30 in favor of the Bearcats.  SVC eventually took a 36-32 advantage into the locker room at the half.

A steal by Susie Ellis led to a three by Carroll to open the second half, giving SVC a 7-point edge, but the visitors went on an 8-2 run that made it 41-40 near the midway point of the third quarter.  SVC then answered with 6 straight points, as Weems hit a jumper, followed by scores from Lucy Bujdos and McLaughlin that put SVC in front, 47-40.

A free throw and another jumper from Bujdos late in the quarter ran the lead to nine, 54-45, at the end of the third.

Benvenuti then pushed the lead to double-figured with a three at the 7:30 mark of the fourth (60-49) and the Bearcats never allowed the visitors to cut the lead to less than 8 points the rest of the way.

Sanmartin was SVC's second leading scorer on the day, with 13 points in just 16 minutes.  Carroll added 9 and Ellis had 8 points.

Juniata (2-2) had four players in double figures, led by Maria Photiades who had 17.  Katy Leamer had 8 rebounds.

Saint Vincent is now 3-2 on the season, and will open conference play on Wednesday (December 2), hosting Bethany College at 5:30PM.