GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Thiel College women's basketball team opened the 2016-17 season Tuesday with a 62-58 non-conference loss to the Hiram Terriers at Beeghly Gymnasium.
 
The Tomcats held a 34-26 lead at halftime and maintained a 45-42 after three quarters. The Tomcats also led for a majority of the fourth quarter, but Mercedes Jones tied up the score 57-57 on a layup with 91 seconds left in regulation. Down the stretch the Terriers made 5-of-8 shots from the charity line while surrendering just one more point to the Tomcats to earn the non-conference victory.
 
Jess Vormelker (Orwell, Ohio/Grand Valley) scored a game-high 22 points for the Tomcats. She also grabbed seven rebounds, dished out five assists, blocked two shots and came up with two steals.
 
Also for the Tomcats, Taylor Duchon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) scored 18 points while corralling five rebounds. She also recorded three assists, two steals and one blocked shot. Jessica Lovell (Washington, Pa./Trinity) added eight points and four rebounds.
 
Jones led the Terriers with 20 points and nine rebounds while Kayla Yost contributed 14 points and eight rebounds.
 
The Tomcats will return to action Wednesday when they host the Penn College Wildcats at Beeghly Gymnasium. The non-conference game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.