WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Jan. 10) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team hosted Bethany in what turned into a tightly contested Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) matchup on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets battled the Bison over 40 minutes before pulling out a 73-65 victory.
Bethany (7-6, 3-3) controlled the early portion of the game and held a 10-5 lead after the first 5:34 of play. Led by freshman forward
Addy Knetzer, Waynesburg (5-7, 2-3) put together a 12-0 run that put the home team up 17-10. Knetzer scored nine of those dozen points.
The Bison battled back over a defensively charged first period and regained the advantage at 25-24 with 1:47 left to play until halftime. The lead was short-lived for the visiting team, as junior forward
Maura Bobby sprinted out on a fast break and laid in a go-ahead basket that put the Jackets up 26-25 with 1:18 remaining in the period.
The Orange and Black maintained its advantage until the end of the opening 20 minutes. By the time the two teams broke for their respective locker rooms, the Jackets were clinging to a 30-29 edge.
Bethany made good use of the opening possession of the second half, and used it to move back ahead of Waynesburg 31-30. The Bison held the lead for the vast majority of the first 13 minutes of the period, but a layup from Knetzer and two free throws from junior forward
Heather Davis swung momentum back to the host squad and gave the Jackets a lead (56-54) they didn't relinquish.
Bethany trailed by just four points (69-65) with 1:29 showing on the scoreboard. However, Bobby and senior
Hayden Giuliani knocked down a combined four free throws over four attempts during the final seconds of the contest to seal up the victory.
Knetzer proved to be a handful in the post for the Bison defenders. The Jacket rookie poured in a season and game-high 25 points on 12-of-21 shooting and completed her second collegiate double-double by ripping down a team-best 11 rebounds. She also blocked two shots on defense.
Bobby and Davis chipped in 15 and 10 points, respectively, to the winning effort.
Waynesburg won't have much time to enjoy its most recent victory, as they play a rare Monday night game at Westminster. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
