WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Jan. 5) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team tipped off 2017 with a home Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game against Chatham. The Yellow Jackets built a 16-point second quarter lead, but couldn't maintain it, as they fell 78-69 to the Cougars.
 
The opening period saw neither team grab a lead larger than five points. A pair of free throws from junior Mackenna Drazich gave Waynesburg (7-4, 3-2) a slim 20-19 edge at the end of the first 10 minutes, but the home team was just warming up for a big run.
 
Drazich's foul shots were just the beginning of a 23-6 run by the home team that concluded with a free throw from senior forward Haley Delaney with 2:55 left to play in the first half. That successful attempt put the Jackets ahead 41-25 and seemingly in control of the contest.
 
Unfortunately, Chatham (7-4, 2-3) had different thoughts and quickly ripped off a 12-0 run that needed just 2:09 to accomplish. Waynesburg managed to sneak in a pair of free throws from senior guard Katie Gehlmann before the end of the half to stop the surge, but the home team's advantage was just 43-37 at halftime.
 
The Jackets managed to maintain their lead for the majority of the third quarter, slipping into a tie with the Cougars for 41 seconds. Heading into the fourth quarter, Waynesburg was clinging to a 58-56 edge.
 
Unfortunately, Chatham's constant offensive pressure finally got to the home team over the final 10 minutes of action. The visiting team owned the final 5:25 of competition, during which it outscored Waynesburg 11-1 to close out the comeback victory.
 
After being hampered with some early foul trouble in the first half, junior forward Addy Knetzer dominated the paint in the final two periods. After putting up just six points and three rebounds in quarters one and two, Knetzer recorded a double-double in the second half alone. By the time her night was through, the Houston, Pennsylvania, native had piled up 17 points and a season-high 20 rebounds, 14 of which were on the offensive glass.
 
Gehlmann and Drazich chipped in 12 points each, while senior forward Haley Delaney ripped down 10 rebounds and recorded three blocks. Delaney added five points to her night.
 
Waynesburg suffered the loss despite out-rebounding Chatham by a 50-31 margin.
 
The Jackets are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 7, when they head to Westminster. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.