Box Score
WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Jan. 26) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team led by as many as nine points in the second half of their Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game with Bethany on Wednesday night, but the Bison battled back to steal a 63-59 victory.
The loss ended a three-game Yellow Jacket (13-5, 6-4) winning streak and was the second-straight victory for the Bison (9-9, 4-6). During the first half of competition, Bethany came out hot and built a 13-6 lead over the first six-and-a-half minutes of action. The Visitors not only maintained a multi-basket lead for most of the half, but expanded it to as many as 10 (24-14) with 4:40 showing on the clock. However, the Jackets went on a 14-4 run over the next four-plus minutes to tie the game at 28-28. Bethany knocked down two late free throws to take a 30-28 lead into the locker room.
After the Bison rebuilt a five-point advantage (33-28) early in the second period, the Yellow Jacket offense found its rhythm and put together a 10-0 spurt that gave the home team a 38-33 lead early in the half. A 10-6 run gave Waynesburg its biggest lead of the game at 48-39 with just over 11 minutes to play.
Though the Jackets looked primed to pick up their fourth win in a row, Bethany had other ideas and slowly chipped away at the deficit. An 8-0 run that spanned the next three-and-a-half minutes made the score 48-47 in favor of the home team. After a free throw by freshman Megan Sowers pushed the lead back up to two, the Bison scored five of the next six points to regain the lead at 52-49. A 10-6 stretch gave the Jackets the lead back with 2:12 showing on the clock, but it was the last time Waynesburg led on the night as the Bison scored the final five points of the game to take the win.
The visitors held a huge advantage in rebounding, out-pacing their opponents on the glass by a 47-23 margin. The Yellow Jackets came into the night averaging just under 45 boards per game. Bethany also won the battle at the free throw line by hitting on 14-of-19 attempts. Waynesburg made just six-of-eight. The Jackets nearly made up for the discrepancies with some stellar defensive work. They forced 28 Bethany turnovers, while giving up just 13 of their own, and swiped 14 steals to the Bison's four. Waynesburg also swatted six blocks, while their opponents had zero.
Four different Waynesburg players reached double digits in scoring, with sophomore guard Brittany Spencer leading the way with 14. Senior forward Elisha Jones and junior point guard Hannah Hunter added 12 each, while sophomore guard Jessi Drayer chipped in 11. Hunter also dished out a game-high six assists and swiped a contest-best six steals.
Waynesburg will try to rebound from Wednesday's heart-breaking loss on Saturday, when they host another PAC rival in Grove City. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
