LATROBE, Pa. — Thiel couldn't overcome a poor start in an 83-45 loss to Saint Vincent in Presidents' Athletic Conference play Wednesday at the Carey Center.

The Bearcats (15-5, 11-2) forced turnovers early with a full-court press, helping them jump out to a 24-9 lead midway through the first half.

Thiel trailed 46-19 at the half but continued to fight. Trailing 58-36 in the second half, the Tomcats got to within 22, sparked by two of Kelly Barzak (Warren, OH/Howland)'s team-high 17 points.

The Tomcats aren't the first team Saint Vincent has stifled with tenacious defense. Only five times this season has a Bearcat opponent eclipsed 60 or more points while their last victim, Westminster, finished with 46 points.

The Bearcats' Elle Collins scored a game-high 18 points with all of her points coming on 6-of-9 shooting from the three-point arc. She was one of four scorers in double-figures as Ashlee Darby reached 14 points, while Taylor Mathers and Jessica Hentrel each finished with 10 points.

Barzak paced the Tomcats (5-15, 4-9) with her sixth double-double of the season, as she finished with 17 points, a team-best 11 rebounds and three blocks. Kelly Muffley (Salsburg, Pa./Western Reserve Academy) also reached double-figures with 16 points, four rebounds and two steals. Bethany Hines (Youngstown, Ohio/Youngstown Early College) contributed eight points while Jaclyn Watkins grabbed four boards and scored three points off the bench for Thiel.

The Tomcats will look to rebound, when they host Bethany College on Saturday at 1 p.m.