MIAMI, Fla. – The Thiel College women's basketball team competed in its first game of the HoopMIA D3 Holiday Shootout on Tuesday night. Thiel faced non-conference opponent Alfred University and fell by a final score of 68-57.

The Tomcats offense got off to a fast start as Alivia Sidley (Thompson, Ohio/Ledgemont) drained an opening possession 3-pointer. The Tomcats and Saxons battled back-and-forth as there were four lead changes in the first. After one quarter the Tomcats led, 15-13.

Thiel started the second quarter same as the first but this time Courtney Harriman (Geneva, Ohio/Geneva) drilled a 3-pointer to extend the lead to five points. A jumper from Brijae Journee (Cleveland, Ohio/Villa-Angela St. Joseph) followed by two free throws from Sidley built the Tomcat lead to nine points. Journee led all scorers with a career-high 21 points. Journee went 9-of-16 from the floor and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc.

Thiel trailed 31-30 at the break and fell behind by as many as nine with under five minutes left in the third before Journee hit a 3-point shot to make it 46-40 in favor of Alfred. Sidley hit a three at the buzzer to put Thiel within striking distance down by three points heading into the final quarter.

The Tomcats tied the game at 52-52 when Journee made another three to start the fourth. The game remained tied at 54-54 as each team traded buckets before the Saxons went on a 7-point run to make it 61-54.

Jess Vormelker (Orwell, Ohio/Grand Valley), who collected 15 points and tied a career-high with 17 rebounds, converted on a three to put Thiel back within four with 2:50 remaining in the game. Unfortunately, the Tomcats were unable to get any closer down the stretch.

Thiel will continue play in the HoopMIA D3 Holiday Shootout Wednesday against St. Thomas University. The game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at Barry University.