Box Score
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (Jan. 22) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team exploded in the second half of their road Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game at Chatham to beat the Cougars 61-43.
The win was the third in a row for the Yellow Jackets, who improve to 13-4 overall and 6-3 in PAC play after sweeping the season series with the Cougars for the first time since Chatham (6-11, 2-7) joined the PAC. It was also Waynesburg's most lop-sided win over the Cougars in that same time span.
The first 20 minutes of action featured an impressive seven ties and 11 lead changes as the two teams battled it out. By the time the two squads broke for halftime, the Yellow Jackets were clinging to a 26-23 lead. The Jackets scored the final four points of the half on a field goal and two free throws by junior point guard Hannah Hunter.
Waynesburg continued to maintain a two-basket edge early in the second half, but were finally able to distance themselves from the Cougars with a 12-0 run that turned a 37-32 Yellow Jacket advantage into a 49-32 lead with 8:44 to play in the game. From that point on, the Jackets not only maintained a healthy double-digit lead, but expanded it to as many as 22 (59-37) with 1:14 to play. Waynesburg ended up out-scoring Chatham 35-20 in the second half to seal the win.
As Waynesburg has done typically this year, the Yellow Jackets featured a balanced offensive attack with multiple double-digit scorers. Sophomore guard Jessi Drayer came off the bench to score a game-high 17 points on seven-of-14 shooting from the floor. Senior forward Elisha Jones followed with 15 points, while Hunter put up 13 to go along with a game-high four assists. Sophomore guard Brittany Spencer contributed 10 points to the winning effort.
Both Jones and Spencer tied for the game lead with nine rebounds, and sophomore forward Paige Pearce added eight. The trio played a big role in the Yellow Jackets out-rebounding the Cougars 46 to 39. The visiting team also did a better job of protecting the ball than their hosts, as Waynesburg committed 15 turnovers to Chatham's 27.
With their win and a Grove City loss, the Yellow Jackets are now a game ahead of the Wolverines for third place in the PAC. The Jackets will try for their fourth-straight victory on Wednesday, Jan. 26, when they host Bethany. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
