Saint Vincent Edges W&J Late 62-52
LATROBE, Pa. -- Saint Vincent outscored Washington & Jefferson 13-2 in the final six minutes and 16 seconds to earn a 62-52 PAC women’s basketball victory on Wednesday evening at the Carey Center.
Devin McGrath scored 22 points to lead the Bearcats, including six during the game-clinching run. The Bearcats held the Presidents scoreless for a six-minute stretch which decided the outcome.
Saint Vincent (13-5, 9-2 PAC) led for a majority of the first half before scoring eight of the last 10 points to take a 29-24 halftime lead.
A three-point play by W&J junior forward Chelsea Apke (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) tied the game five minutes into the second half. The game went back-and-forth over the next nine minutes with four ties and four lead changes until McGrath’s jumper at the 6:16 mark put SVC in front for good. Ally Schmidt knocked down a pair of key jumpers which stretched the lead to seven points with 1:46 left.
McGrath made 8-of-14 field goals and all six of her free throws, while adding 11 points, four assists, three blocks and three steals. Elle Collins and Ariel Rocco netted 12 points, while Schmidt finished with 11. Saint Vincent forced 23 Presidents’ turnovers.
Apke paced the Presidents with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore center Valerie Dunlap (Hostetter, Pa./Latrobe) also grabbed 11 boards, while freshman forward Beka Bellhy (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) made all four of her shot attempts to finish with eight points. Senior guard Emily Abraham (Canfield, Ohio/Boardman) drilled a trio of three-pointers and notched nine points and five rebounds.
W&J shot 41 percent (22-of-53) and connected on 7-of-17 shots from three-point range; however, only attempted three free throws, making one. SVC swished 8-of-13 foul shots.
Washington & Jefferson (12-6, 7-4 PAC) aims to get back into the win column on Saturday versus Thiel (2:00 pm) on Alumni Day at the Henry Memorial Center.
