BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (Jan. 28) – Jasmine Weems poured in a game-best 20 points to the lead the Saint Vincent women's basketball team to a 70-51 victory over Geneva College in Presidents' Athletic Conference play at the Metheny Fieldhouse.
 
Susie Ellis (12), Babette Sanmartin (10) and Hannah Carroll(10) joined Weems all scoring in double figures.
 
Saint Vincent started strong as Carroll and Ellis connected on three-pointers, giving the Bearcats a 6-0 lead over Geneva a little more than a minute into the game. The Golden Tornadoes battled back with a three-pointer before adding a layup to cut the deficit to 6-5 at the 7:18 mark.
 
Saint Vincent scored its next three points at the free throw, as Weems converted two at the line before Kayla Slovenec split a pair at the stripe. Those free throws helped SVC start a 7-1 run to close the quarter. Also helping out during the run was Taylor Boring, who assisted on a basket before adding a jumper.
 
Carroll connected on a jumper on the Bearcats' first possession of the second quarter, extending the lead to 15-6. Geneva responded back with 10 straight points to take their first lead of the game at 16-15 at the 7:11 mark of the second quarter. The hosts connected on back-to-back threes during the spurt.
 
The Bearcats were able to counter and finish the second quarter with a fury, outscoring Geneva 15-2 over the final seven-plus minutes. Ellis and Weems accounted for the first nine points of the run, giving SVC a 24-18 edge with 4:27 left in the half.
 
Freshman Madison Kollar tacked on a three-point play, converting a running jumper and a free throw, pushing the SVC lead to 27-18 with 3:10 to play in the half.
 
Weems and Ellis added jumpers to give SVC a 31-18 lead after 20 minutes of play. Weems and Ellis tallied nine points apiece in the first half. The two combined to hit on 7-of-9 field goal attempts over the first 20 minutes. As a team, Saint Vincent shot 46.2 percent from the field during the first half.
 
The Bearcats carried that momentum into the second half, using a 20-8 run over the first five-plus minutes of the third quarter, taking a 51-26 edge at the 3:29 mark. Sanmartin was the catalyst for the run, scoring all 10 of her points in the third quarter. Weems and Ellis would each add a three-pointer to help the Bearcats to a 62-30 lead after three quarters.
 
The Golden Tornadoes would outscore the Bearcats by a 21-8 margin in the fourth quarter to put the final score at 70-51. Taylor Boring, Carroll and Weems would account for the Bearcats three field goals in the fourth.
 
Saint Vincent put together a strong shooting performance, converting 51.9 percent from the field, including eight made three-pointers. The Bearcats also held a 37-26 edge in rebounding over the GT's. Carroll and Sanmartin led a balanced rebounding effort, each pulling down five boards. Ellis dished out a game-high five assists.
 
The win improves the Bearcats to 11-8 overall and 8-4 in the PAC. Geneva falls to 4-15 overall and 1-11 in conference play.
 
The Bearcats return home to host Waynesburg University on Wednesday, Feb. 1 in a key PAC matchup. Tip-off is slated for a 5:30 p.m. start at the Carey Center.