WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Nov. 8) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team tipped off the 2019-20 season on Friday night by hosting a young-and-upcoming Penn State Behrend team. A slew of young Yellow Jackets played big minutes and gave the Lions a fantastic 40-minute battle, but faded down the stretch in an 83-74 loss.
 
The Jackets (0-1) started two freshmen and a transfer at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse. But, despite the new faces playing significant minutes, Waynesburg boasted five of their own reaching double digits in scoring. The home team was particularly effective at the free throw line, where it connected on 26-of-31 attempts (83.9 percent).
 
However, Behrend's (1-0) height advantage allowed it to hold a sizeable 48-34 rebounding edge, which played a major role in the game's final result.
 
Waynesburg bounced back from a 25-16 deficit it got into in the first quarter by putting the clamps on the Behrend offense in period number two. The Yellow Jackets allowed just 10 points in period number two, while recording 19 points of their own to tie the game at 35-35 heading into the break.
 
The Jackets kept the momentum going into the third quarter and built leads as large as six points (51-45) before heading to the final 10 minutes of the evening with 53-51 advantage. Unfortunately, while the Orange and Black controlled the middle portion of the contest, Behrend won the beginning and the end of the lid-lifter
 
The game was decided with around six minutes showing on the game clock. Behrend led 64-61, but a 9-1 surge over the next 3:30 made the score 73-62 with 3:27 remaining in the contest. To the Jackets' credit, they never gave up on the game and were able to outscore the Lions 12-4 over the next three minutes to make the score 77-74 with 23 seconds left to play.
 
However, a half-dozen free throws down the stretch closed out the win for the visitors.
 
Of all the new faces on Waynesburg's roster, none made a better first impression than freshman forward Zoie Smith (Berlin, Pa. / Berline Brothersvalley), who logged a double-double in her first collegiate game. She tallied 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds over 31 minutes on the floor, while also swiping four steals and blocking a shot.
 
Junior Andrea Orlosky (Shelocta, Pa. / West Shamokin) used her attacking style to score 11 of her squad-best 15 points while attempting 13 free throws. She also yanked down a half-dozen boards, handed out two assists and posted two steals.
 
Freshman Anika Dansby (Massillon, Ohio / Washington) saw the bulk of the minutes at point guard and used them to score 12 points, hand out four assists and take away four steals. Sophomore Brooke Fuller (Allison Park, Pa. / Hampton) and Kacey Kastroll (South Park, Pa. / South Park) tallied 11 points each on the night.
 
Waynesburg will play its second-straight home game on Tuesday, Nov. 12, when it hosts Hiram. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.