Women’s basketball downed by Saint Vincent 69-64

Steve Janik, Assistant Sports Information Director

BETHANY, W.Va. (Feb. 8) - The Bethany College women's basketball team fell to Saint Vincent 69-64 on Wednesday night in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) matchup.

With the loss, Bethany falls to 11-11, 9-6 in the PAC, while Saint Vincent improves to 11-4 in conference play, 14-8 overall this season.

Senior guard Hayley Holenka (Shadyside, Ohio/Shadyside) was the leading scorer for the Bison, tallying 19 points, while shooting 6-of-12 from three point range. Junior forward Kelsea Daugherty (Newport, Ohio/Frontier) picked up her 15th double-double of the season, dropping 17 points with 15 boards. Sophomore guard Sammie Weiss (Avella, Pa./McGuffey) also added 15, while junior forward Kelsi Settle (Sebring, Ohio/Sebring) tallied five points with 12 rebounds and six assists.

The Bearcats opened the game with eight-straight points and eventually worked their lead to 12-4 in the early minutes of the contest. The Bison stormed back with an 11-5 run, capped off by a Holenka trey to make it 17-15, before a Bearcats basket made it 19-15 to end the first quarter.

Three minutes into the second quarter, with the game tied at 21 apiece, the Bison gained the advantage on two converted free throws by Daugherty. Saint Vincent regained the lead with just under five minutes in the half before eventually taking the 35-30 lead into the locker room.

The Green and White found themselves within three at the midway point of the third quarter, but the Bearcats jumped back ahead with an eight point lead into the final quarter of play.

Down to the 5:42 mark of the fourth, Saint Vincent led 55-50. Back-to-back baskets by Weiss and Daugherty made it a one-point game at 55-54. Saint Vincent increased its lead back to four, just for the Bison to bring it back to within one after a Daugherty layup plus one, making the score 60-59 with 2:47 left to play. 

After the Bearcats regained a five point lead at 66-61, Holenka hit another trey to make it 66-64 before the Bearcats closed out the game at the foul line. 

Next up for Bethany, they host Washington and Jefferson on Saturday, February 11 at 2 p.m.