Kansas City, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist University women's basketball team picked up their first victory of the 2012-13 season with a 65-59 win over Rockhurst on Saturday. The Bearcats had four players in double figures while leading throughout most of the contest.

Rockhurst was quick out of the gate, scoring the game's first seven points before the Bearcats responded with a seven point run of their own to tie the game up at 7-7. Rockhurst would maintain a short lead until the 6:34 mark when Tanis Spani hit a three-pointer to give SBU its first lead of the game at 19-18, a lead they would not give up for the remainder of the game. The Bearcats closed out the final six and half minutes of the first half by going on a 21-6 run to take a 37-24 lead going into halftime. SBU continued their strong play in the second half, pushing their lead to 18 at 47-29, before Rockhurst would start chipping away at the lead. However the Bearcats held off the Hawks surge, as SBU hit free throws down the stretch, to pull out the 65-59 victory.

Tanis Spani was once again the leading scorer for SBU, collecting 14 points on 4 of 7 shooting from the field, including 3 three pointers. Jacqui Zelenka also had another solid game for SBU, scoring 12 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and dishing out 4 assists in the victory. The Bearcats had two other players in Autumn Zenon and Brook Duncan who both scored career highs and gave SBU 10 points a piece.

As a team SBU shot 48.0% from the field, 43.8% from beyond the arc, but only 52.6% from the free throw line. The Bearcats have 5 blocks on the day, and dished out 17 assists compared to the Hawks' 14.

SBU will be back in action on Tuesday, November 20 when they host Southern Arkansas. The SBU women's home opener is set to tip-off at 5:30 p.m. from the Meyer Sports Center in Bolivar.