Box Score

LATROBE, Pa. (Feb. 13) – For the first 20 minutes of play, the Waynesburg University women's basketball team battled right with second-place Saint Vincent College on Wednesday night. Unfortunately, for the second time this season, the Bearcats ran away with a game against the Orange and Black in the second half, claiming a 71-58 victory Wednesday night at the Carey Center in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play.
 
The first half was like most recent meeting between the two programs, who have now faced off eight times over the past three seasons. The opening period featured eight lead changes and four ties, with Saint Vincent (19-5, 15-2) taking the early lead before two three-point plays by freshman guard Gina Rievel put Waynesburg (12-12, 11-6) in front 6-4 two-plus minutes into the contest. The Yellow Jackets continued to hold the lead, which they stretched to as many as six points (11-5) at the 14:31 mark, before the Bearcats rattled off seven of the next eight points to tie the contest at 12-12 with 9:06 remaining in the period.
 
A Rievel three-pointer put Waynesburg up 19-16 with 6:22 to play in the first half, before three pointers by freshman guard Lauren Blair and junior Elaine Hasek helped the Jackets stretch their lead to as many as five points before Saint Vincent tied it up at 27-27 just before halftime. Senior guard Brittany Spencer hit a jump shot as the buzzer sounded to give the Jackets a 29-27 halftime lead.
 
The game continued to be a back-and-forth battle in the second period, as the Bearcats immediately tied the contest back up and subsequently regained the lead with back-to-back baskets to start the half. Waynesburg briefly took a 40-39 lead on a free throw by Hasek with 12:39 to play, but that was the last lead for the Jackets on the night as Saint Vincent rattled off eight-straight points to take a 47-40 lead with 9:45 remaining in the contest.
 
Saint Vincent outscored Waynesburg 24-18 down the stretch run of the evening, with the Bearcats extending their lead to as many as 16 points (66-50) with 1:32 to play. The Yellow Jackets outscored Saint Vincent 8-5 to close out the contest, with five of those points coming from senior guard Jessi Drayer.
 
Rievel led Waynesburg with a team-best 13 points, and Hasek chipped in 12 points in the loss. Senior forward Paige Pearce pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds in the loss, while Drayer dished out a team-best five assists.
 
The Yellow Jackets converted 33.9 percent (21-of-62) of its shots from the field, but had some success from behind the three-point arc, making seven three pointers. However, Saint Vincent shot 43.7 percent (27-of-62) from the field and made five-of-13 three pointers (38.5 percent). Waynesburg held a 46-39 rebounding advantage, but it wasn't enough to claim victory.
 
Waynesburg wraps up the regular season on Saturday, when the Jackets host Chatham for senior day at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse. Tip-off is slated for 1:30 p.m.