GREENSBURG, Pa. – Senior guard Jess Vormelker (Orwell, Ohio/Grand Valley) recorded a double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough for the Thiel College women's basketball team in a 75-71 season-opening non-conference loss on the road Saturday to the Pitt Greensburg Bobcats.
 
Thiel led 17-11 after one quarter of play but trailed Pitt Greensburg 33-32 at halftime. The Bobcats outscored the Tomcats 21-15 in the third to hold a 54-47 lead heading into the final frame.
 
The Bobcats led by 11 points early in the fourth, but Alivia Sidley (Thompson, Ohio/Ledgemont) got the Tomcats within three points (69-66) on a layup with 3:06 remaining in regulation. Roughly two minutes later, freshman guard Abby Triskett (Orwell, Ohio/Grand Valley) made it a 2-point game (71-69) when she drained a three-pointer. However, the Bobcats scored on a jumper on their next possession and made a pair of foul shots down the stretch to preserve the win.
 
Vormelker moved into eighth-place on Thiel's career points list (1,151) with her game-high 26 points Saturday, surpassing Tammy Willrich (1,132).
 
Tomcat freshman guard Rachel Breckenridge (Burton, Ohio/Berkshire) came off the bench to score 15 points. All 15 of her points came on three-pointers. In all, she made 5-of-13 three-point shots in her collegiate debut.
 
Sidley scored 14 points and recorded six rebounds. Danyelle Lucido (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) led her team with 11 rebounds and recorded five assists.
 
Nadege Durand notched a double-double for the Bobcats with 21 points and a game-best 17 rebounds. Colleen Murphy also contributed 19 points.
 
The Tomcats will play their home opener Tuesday against the Hilbert Hawks. The non-conference game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Beeghly Gymnasium.