Women's Basketball: Bison fall short against Bearcats

BETHANY, W.Va. – The Bethany College women's basketball team faced the Saint Vincent Bearcats in a defensive battle, inside Hummel Field House, Thursday evening. The Bearcats edged the Bison 47-42.  

GAME FLOW

• Saint Vincent lifted the lid first with a layup to take the early lead. In the Bison's opening possession they had three opportunities to knot the game at two apiece but could not capitalize on their offensive rebounds. Makenzee Mason scored Bethany's first eight points to give the Bison the lead, 8-4 with 5:36 to go in the first period. Bethany's lead swelled to 17-9 to close out the first stanza.
• The Bearcats slowly chipped away at the Bison lead, scoring the first eight points to open the second quarter. After knotting the game at 17-17, the Bearcats held the Bison scoreless over the first seven minutes of the second quarter. Makenzee Mason's jumper with 3:16 to go in the half gave back the lead to the Bison.  The Green and White held onto a narrow, 24-21 lead heading into the halftime break.
• In the third quarter, the Bearcats chipped away again at the Bison lead after scoring the first five points. They led 26-24 with 7:09 to go before Bella Skobel evened the score. Saint Vincent regained the lead and built a four point lead but the Bison kept battling. Sophie Morey knotted the game at 30-30 with 4:31 to go in the third, but Saint Vincent quickly took the lead back and led 37-35 heading into the final quarter.
• The fourth quarter was a defensive battle with a total of 17 points scored. The Bearcats edged the Bison, 10-7 to seal the victory. The Bearcats once again scored the opening points of the quarter and extended their lead to five. Alyssa Serensky cut the deficit with a shot from behind the arc, 40-38. Moments later, Serensky hit another three to give the Bison a 41-40 lead with 6:16 to go. Over the course of the next three minutes the Bison and Bearcats were held scoreless. Makenzee Mason hit 1-of-2 free throws to give the Bison a two point lead with 3:20 left in the game. A deep three-pointer by Saint Vincent's Emily Cavacini gave the Bearcats their final lead of the game and helped clinch the win.

IN THE BOX SCORE

• Makenzee Mason led the Bison with 13 points. She pulled in six rebounds and had three assists and three steals.
• Alyssa Serensky had 10 points with three made three-pointers.
• Sophie Morey pulled down a team-high 16 rebounds. She added two steals.
• Taylor Dusenberry and Bella Skobel had eight points apiece.

BY THE NUMBERS

• The Bison and Bearcats were even on the boards, 45-45.
• Saint Vincent shot 31.1% (19-61) from the field while Bethany shot 21.9% (14-64).
• The Bison edged the Bearcats from behind the arc making seven three's while holding the Bearcats to two.

RECORDS

Bethany College – 3-11 (3-6 PAC)

Saint Vincent College – 9-3 (7-2 PAC)

UP NEXT

Bethany are on the road on Saturday, Jan. 7 against Geneva College. Tipoff is set for 1 pm.