Box Score
 
WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Feb. 8) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team kept a firm grasp on third place in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) standings by taking down Bethany 74-56 on Wednesday night. With the win, the Yellow Jackets improved to 17-5 overall and 12-3 in PAC play. The Bison fell to 13-8 overall and 9-5 in conference action.
 
Waynesburg never trailed on the evening as junior guard Jessi Drayer opened the scoring with a three-pointer 18 seconds into the contest. The Bison answered with a three-pointer of their own to tie the game up 3-3, but that was the last time the visitors would tie their hosts on the evening. The game was close throughout most of the first half, but a 10-0 Waynesburg run starting with 5:43 left to play in the first half turned a two-point home advantage into a 31-19 Jacket lead with 1:36 showing on the first period clock. The Orange and Black eventually went into their locker room with a 33-24 halftime lead.
 
The contest was still a single-digit affair (51-42) with 9:39 left to play in regulation, but a 13-2 surge by the Jackets gave them a 64-44 lead with 4:30 showing on the scoreboard. Waynesburg's lead swelled to as many as 22 points before the Bison scored the final four points of the game to bring about the final score.
 
The Yellow Jackets featured four double-digit scorers, and the quartet was led by junior forward Paige Pearce, who poured in a personal collegiate-best and game-high 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Pearce also yanked down seven rebounds and swiped four steals. Drayer added 15 points to the victory, while sophomore forward Elaine Hasek contributed 14 points and a game-high three blocks. Freshman guard Brittany Rumple on three three-of-four three-point attempts as part of a 10-point evening.
 
Though she didn't reach double digits in scoring, senior point guard Hannah Hunter just missed out a on a double-double with nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Hunter also dished out a game-high seven assists and tied for the game high with six steals.
 
While most of the team statistics were fairly even on the night, Waynesburg held a big advantage in turnovers, coughing the ball up 12 times to Bethany's 24, which gave the Jackets a 22-5 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
The Jackets will put their current four-game winning streak and 15-game home winning streak on the line Saturday, when they welcome Thomas More to the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse for a battle that could go a long way in determining seeding for the upcoming PAC tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.