Box Score
Video link to game-winning shot
WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Dec. 1) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team opened Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play on Wednesday night in dramatic fashion at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse.
In the final seconds of overtime, junior point guard Hannah Hunter, nailed a running jumper in the paint to give the Yellow Jackets (5-0, 1-0) a 66-64 victory over the Chatham Cougars (3-4, 0-1).
As if that wasn't enough drama, with 0.8 seconds remaining in regulation, senior forward Elisha Jones nailed a critical free throw to send the game into overtime with the score tied 55-55.
Waynesburg jumped out to a 2-0 lead to start the game, but didn't lead again until the start of the overtime period. The women hoopsters shot just 25.8% in the first half and trailed the Cougars going into halftime 28-22. Things went from bad to worse in the second half when the visitors built up their largest lead of the game (11) with just over eight minutes left in regulation.
The Jackets, however, weren't ready to give up their season-opening win streak and went to work on chipping away at the deficit. Trailing 46-35, Waynesburg went on a 14-4 run over the next five-and-a-half minutes to cut the Cougars' lead to a single point (50-49) with 2:35 showing on the clock.
The two teams went back-and-forth down the stretch, but Waynesburg trailed by a point (55-54) with just seconds to go. Jones drove to the basket and was able to draw a foul with just under a second remaining in regulation. After missing the first of two shots, the three-time All-PAC honoree calmly drilled the second attempt and sent the game into overtime.
Things started well in the extra period for Waynesburg when Jones connected on a layup to make the score 57-55. Neither team led by more than two points until there were 23 seconds showing on the clock and Hunter knocked down one of two foul shots to move the Jackets ahead 64-61. After Chatham banked in the game-tying three-pointer with four seconds remaining in the period, it looked like the game was heading for a second overtime.
However, Hunter decided to put the game to rest and connected on a running jumper just inside the free throw line as the buzzer went off to end the thrilling contest.
Hunter led the way for the Jackets, finishing with a game-high 20 points, five rebounds, four steals and a contest-best seven assists. Jones and sophomore guard Brittany Spencer paced the Jackets efforts on the glass with a game-high eight rebounds each. Jones just missed out on a double-double after dropping in 10 points on the night. It was her fifth-straight game in double digits.
The statistics on the night reflected the competitiveness of the conference clash. Both teams totaled six made three pointers and shot 14-of-19 from the charity stripe. Hunter's game winner was the Jackets' 23rd made shot, while Chatham hit on 22.
Waynesburg looks to continue its strong start when the Jackets travel to Bethany this Saturday for a
PAC matchup with the Bison.
