Box Score
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (Dec. 21) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team ended the 2010 calendar year on a high note by picking up a 59-51 win at La Roche.
The Yellow Jackets (8-2) snapped a four-game Redhawk winning streak with a victory that featured four different players reaching double digits in scoring. Waynesburg got off to a fast start and built up a 7-2 lead 4:45 into the contest. La Roche (8-2) rebounded with several scoring bursts to build up multiple five-point leads over the first period.
Trailing 19-14 with 6:11 to go until halftime, the Jackets put together a strong run to end the first half and take the lead into the locker room. Waynesburg ran off 14 unanswered points that were punctuated by a Brittany Spencer jumper that put her team ahead 28-19. The Redhawks cut into the lead with the final bucket of the period, but Waynesburg was still ahead 28-21 going into intermission.
The Jackets never trailed in the second half, but the Hawks managed to cut the deficit down to a single point on multiple occasions. Clinging to a 47-46 edge with just 3:50 left in the game, Waynesburg was finally able to put its opponent away with a 7-0 run that put the visiting team ahead 54-46 with 1:49 showing on the clock.
Senior forward Elisha Jones led the balanced Jacket attack with a game-high 15 points. Spencer continued her recent strong offensive play with 13 points, while reserve guard Jessi Drayer, who was playing in just her third game with the team, added 11 points on an efficient five-for-eight shooting performance. She also swiped away three steals. Junior point guard Hannah Hunter just missed out on a double-double after going for 10 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Emilee Wagner ripped down a team-high 10 boards.
While most of the offensive statistics on the afternoon were almost identical between the two teams, the Jackets' effectiveness at the free throw line made the difference. Waynesburg made 77 percent of their tries from the charity stripe (13-of-17), while La Roche managed to make just five-of-12 shots from the line.
The Jackets will take some time off from competition to celebrate the holidays before returning to the court. They return with a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) matchup on Jan. 4 in New Wilmington against the Westminster Titans. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
