WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Feb. 15) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team hosted Washington & Jefferson on Wednesday night in a crucial late-season Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game. The Yellow Jackets used a big fourth quarter to overcome a President lead and pick up a 71-66 victory.
 
With the win, Waynesburg (14-10, 10-7) stayed in a tie for fourth place in the conference standings. The top four teams avoid a first-round tournament games and move straight to Wednesday's quarterfinal round.
 
The first two quarters of action featured seven ties and four lead changes over 20 minutes of action. By the time the halftime break arrived, the Presidents (16-8, 13-4) were holding on to a 30-27 edge.
 
W&J led for the vast majority of the third quarter, and went into the final period of the night with a 50-45 advantage. However, the Yellow Jackets save their best work for the fourth quarter.
 
The Presidents extended their lead to 52-45 with the first hoop of the final period, but was quickly countered by a three-pointer from senior guard Katie Gehlmann that cut the deficit down to four points. That trey opened a crucial 12-0 run that moved the home team ahead 57-52. Senior guard Kassidy O'Keefe followed Gehlmann with at three of her own.
 
Gehlmann found the mark from long range again, putting Waynesburg ahead 54-52. O'Keefe capped the surge with an old-fashioned three-point play that gave the Jackets its five-point advantage with 6:02 showing on the game clock.
 
W&J fired back with five-straight points to tie the game at 57-57. However, the next six points belonged to the Jackets thanks to field goals from junior Mackenna Drazich, senior Haley Delaney and junior Addy Knetzer. That trio of hoops put the Jackets back ahead 63-57.
 
Though the Presidents scored the next five points to trim their deficit down to a single point, they were never able to regain the advantage. Leading 63-62 with just under two minutes remaining in the contest, a basket by O'Keefe and two free throws from Gehlmann provided the eventual game-clinching points.
 
Playing in her final home regular season game, O'Keefe scored a game and personal collegiate-best 20 points on eight-of-11 shooting. The veteran guard converted on all three of her attempts from three-point range.
 
Gehlmann added 18 points to the winning effort. She connected on four-of-eight tries from three-point range, as well as six-of-six attempts at the foul line. Knetzer recorded her 15^th double-double of the season on 14 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The victory snapped W&J's seven-game winning streak. Prior to Wednesday night, the Presidents' last loss came against Waynesburg on Jan. 18.
 
The Jackets wrap up their regular season schedule on Saturday with a road trip to Geneva. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.