BLUFFTON, Ohio (Dec. 28) – Despite bringing just seven healthy players to the court on Friday night, the Waynesburg University women's basketball team found itself with the lead heading into the fourth quarter against Bluffton at the Beavers' Holiday Tournament. Unfortunately, the Yellow Jackets weren't able to turn their hot start into a victory as they fell 77-68.
After falling behind 5-0 after the first 1:31 of play, Waynesburg (3-8) fired back in a big way by scoring 17 of the game's next 19 points to build a 17-7 lead with 3:11 left in the first quarter. The Jackets closed out the opening period with a 20-13 advantage.
The visiting team led throughout the entirety of the second quarter and thanks to back-to-back three pointers from freshman guard
Haley Porter (Belmont, Ohio / Union Local) and junior guard
Erin Joyce (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Bishop Canevin), it took a 40-27 lead into halftime. Not surprisingly, Waynesburg held sizeable advantages both from three-point range and at the foul line. The Jackets connected on six-of-14 treys and eight-of-10 free throws. Bluffton (4-6) countered with three treys in 12 attempts and two-of-three foul shots.
Unfortunately, the halftime break didn't seem to agree with the Jackets, who were outscored 23-12 in the third quarter. Waynesburg was clinging to a 52-50 lead by the time the fourth quarter got underway, but Bluffton knocked down a period-opening trey to take a 53-52 advantage.
Two minutes into the quarter, Waynesburg went ahead 58-56 on a Porter jumper. Unfortunately, seven-straight points on a trio of Bluffton field goals gave the host squad a 63-58 edge that it held for the remainder of the contest.
Porter did all she could to lead her team to victory by pouring in a game-high 22 points on eight-of-13 shooting from the floor. She connected on four-of-seven three-point tries before fouling out after 33 minutes of action.
Joyce added 17 points on the evening, while senior point guard
Monica Starre (Jewett, Ohio / Carrollton) chipped in 13 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Freshman center
Brooke Fuller (Allison Park, Pa. / Hampton) posted a double-double on 12 points and 11 rebounds over 25 minutes off the bench.
The Jackets face Wilmington in tomorrow's consolation game. Tipoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.
