NEW WILMINGTON – The Westminster College women’s basketball program dropped a 73-39 decision to visiting Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) rival Saint Vincent Saturday afternoon at Buzz Ridl Gymnasium.
Junior Grace Cano (Greenville High) finished as Westminster’s leading scorer for the eighth time this season, totaling 16 points and five rebounds. She has scored 15 more points three times this year. Cano went 7-of-10 from the floor. Sophomore Katie Maryo added eight points three boards. She went 2-of-5 from three-point range.
Saint Vincent (9-4, 4-0 PAC), winners of three-straight games, had four players finish in double figures. Emerson Peffer finished with 15 points and seven rebounds in 19 reserve minutes. Camdon Bashor and Makenna Maier had 12 points apiece while Olivia Yancy chipped in with 10.
Even at 11-all will under four minutes to go in the first, Saint Vincent closed the quarter riding a 10-0 scoring run to head into the second up 10, 21-11. Sophomore Maddie Syka’s layup with 4:40 left in the half cut the Bearcats’ lead to five, 25-20, before the visitors used an 11-2 run going into the break to stretch their lead to 14, 36-22.
With just under six minutes remaining in the third, Maryo drilled a three-pointer to trim the lead to 13, 42-29. Saint Vincent pushed its lead to as many as 20, 53-33, before taking a 55-37 lead into the final quarter. Peffer scored five of her 15 in the third. The Bearcats outscored the Titans 16-0 over the final eight-plus minutes to score the 34-point league win.
Saint Vincent finished with a 41-34 rebounding advantage and had a 20-12 edge on the offensive glass. The Bearcats scored 25 points off the Titans season-high 28 turnovers.
Westminster hosts Hiram Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. It will be the first meeting between the two schools since Dec. 18, 2019, a 62-48 victory in New Wilmington. Saturday, Hiram (5-8, 2-2 PAC) suffered a 75-57 home loss to Bethany.
Note: This will be updated as colleges submit press releases to The Herald
