PITTSBURGH, Pa. (Dec. 19) – After a 10-day hiatus, the Waynesburg University women's basketball team traveled to Carnegie Mellon University to face the Tartans on Tuesday night. Even though the Yellow Jackets led at the half and it took an extra five minutes, they eventually fell to the Tartans, 81-72.
 
Shooting 46 percent from three-point range and 44 percent from the field led to Waynesburg (5-4) building a 37-34 lead at the half. Unfortunately, the visitors only managed to get the free throw line four times, making one of those attempts. Carnegie Mellon (7-2) went four-for-nine from long range but only shot 29 percent from the field overall in the first 20 minutes. However, the Tartans made eight of their 10 attempts at the stripe.

Both teams were able to force turnovers in a lower scoring second half. The Tartans outscored Waynesburg 18-10 in the in the third quarter and grabbed a 52-47 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
 
Carnegie Mellon kept the Yellow Jackets at bay in the early portion of the fourth period. With 1:51 remaining in regulation, senior guard Rachel Eng scored to cut the Tartans'
lead from five (62-57) to three. Junior point guard Monica Starre was then able to bring the game within a single point with just under a minute remaining. Shortly thereafter, senior forward Mackenna Drazich hit two free throws to give the Yellow Jackets their first lead since the 7:44 mark in the third period.
 
The Tartans did not back down as they made a free throw with 15 seconds left on the clock to tie the game. Eng missed a jumper as time expired to send the non-conference battle into overtime.
 
Unfortunately, Carnegie Mellon controlled the entire five minutes of the extra period, outscoring Waynesburg 18-9 and sealing up the victory. The Yellow Jackets went three-for-eight from the field, while only making two free throws out of seven attempts.
 
Drazich paced the Waynesburg offense with 18 points while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out five assists. Senior forward Addy Knetzer recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Knetzer moved into fourth place on Waynesburg's all-time scoring list with 1,301 total points.
 
Starre added a double-double of her own with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Eng and junior Julie Deklaven both finished the evening with nine points.
 
The Jackets hit the road again this week when they travel to Pitt Greensburg on Thursday evening. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.