Westmoreland Campus Clippings: Saint Vincent men's basketball moves on

The Saint Vincent men’s basketball team snapped a six-game losing streak, and the feat came with a bonus: The Bearcats advanced in the PAC postseason.

SVC (3-7) toppled Waynesburg, 72-58, in the play-in round to advance to Tuesday’s quarterfinals at Geneva.

The Bearcats used a 45-point second half to pull away from the Yellow Jackets.

Senior Shemar Bennett and freshman Anthony Dillard each scored 14 points, and Bennett pulled down 10 rebounds for SVC. Senior Walter Bonds had 12 points and freshman Nelson Etuk added 11.

Grove City: Senior guard Justice Rice (Monessen) had 18 points and seven rebounds for the Wolverines in a 77-65 win over Waynesburg in the teams’ final regular-season game.

Pitt-Greensburg: Four Bobcats reached double figures in scoring in a thrilling 109-103 victory over Penn State Altoona. Senior Matt Johnson scored 26 points, including four 3-pointers, senior Cam Seigfreid (Penn-Trafford) and freshman Lukas Swartz added 17 apiece and junior JoJo France had 13 for UPG (1-1).

The Bobcats made 15 of 38 3s. Altoona made 14 of 29.

The AMCC is not recognizing any official games this season. All games are considered exhibitions.

The UPG women are 4-0 under first-year coach Kelsey Oddis, but no official stats have been logged.

West Liberty: Sophomore Bryce Butler (Latrobe) had 15 points in 29 minutes as the Hilltoppers (16-4) won their NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional opener 94-89 over Malone.

Westmoreland County Community College: Six players scored in double figures as the Wolfpack made it two wins in a row with a 103-70 victory over Penn Highlands. Freshman Jake Zasowski (Latrobe) led the way with 18 points off the bench. Freshman J’akir Hampton and sophomore Tahlyr Vines had 16 each, sophomore Jason Pierre added 13, freshman Brandon Baird 12 and freshman Noah Raynor-Savage 10.

Women’s basketball

Marian: Freshman guard Jayla Wehner (Norwin) had three assists and two steals off the bench as Marian (27-5) defeated Grand View, 92-69, in the opening round of the NAIA tournament. The team advances to the NAIA Final Site, March 18 in Sioux City, Iowa.

Men’s swimming

Grove City: Junior Joe Astrab (Norwin) was selected to the all-PAC second team.

Saint Vincent: Seniors John Martin and Kevin Martin were named to the all-PAC first team, and second-team selections from SVC were sophomore Chris Bush, junior Kris Smith and senior Danny Whirlow (Hempfield).

Women’s swimming

Saint Vincent: Sophomores Sara Basala, Lauren Connors, and Katie Kozy, senior Marion D’Aurora and junior Lauren Krecota were named to the all-PAC first team. Sophomores Cara Luallen and Erica Steele (Greensburg Salem) made second team.

Washington & Jefferson: All-PAC second team picks included junior Kimber Randolph (Hempfield) and Amanda Graves (Penn-Trafford).

Westminster: Sophomore Baylee Horvath (Franklin Regional) made the all-PAC second team.

Football

John Carroll: Junior defensive back Nate Leopold (Franklin Regional) had seven tackles and a pass breakup in a 28-17 win over Baldwin Wallace to open the four-game season.