Box Score
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. (Jan. 11) – Freshman forward
Courtney Sargent put together a terrific effort by totaling career-highs with 29 points and 18 rebounds in a 78-71 road loss Saturday afternoon to Westminster. The loss snapped the Yellow Jackets (6-7, 4-2) three-game winning streak, while the Titans (6-6, 3-2) increased their winning streak to four games.
Things didn't start well for Waynesburg, as the Titans jumped out to an early 13-0 lead and grew the margin to 18-3, before the Jackets started their comeback pursuit. Westminster held a double-digit lead until Sargent hit a layup to make it 22-13 with 9:24 to play in the first half. After trailing by as many as 17 points in the first half, Waynesburg worked its deficit back into single digits by halftime as Sargent scored the last three points of the half to cut the Titan advantage to 40-32.
Westminster hit back-to-back three pointers to make it 57-42 with 12:49 left to play. Waynesburg chipped the lead back down to 10 points (61-51) when Sargent made another layup and a free throw with 8:08 showing on the second-half clock.
Westminster managed to keep the Jackets at bay, but the visiting team took one last shot at a last-second comeback. Sargent made a layup and senior forward
Elaine Hasek picked up a steal and converted a fast break layup with just under 10 seconds to play. Those baskets cut the deficit to 76-71. Waynesburg couldn't get any closer and the Titans closed out the victory and snapped their three-game losing streak to the Jackets.
Along with Sargent's breakout performance, which included the most rebounds in a game by a Waynesburg player since the 2011-12 campaign, Hasek chipped in with a double-double of her own, which included 11 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore
Lauren Blair totaled nine points (all in the second half).
Waynesburg held a 50-40 rebounding advantage over the Titans, but Westminster ultimately won the game at the free throw line, where the home team made 23-of-29 attempts. The Jackets connected on just nine-of-17 foul shots. Both teams were effective from behind the arc, as the Jackets made eight three-point field goals to the Titans' seven.
The Jackets will look to start a new winning streak when they return to Presidents' Athletic Conference action Wednesday night on the road at Thiel. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. in Greenville, Pa.
