WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Jan. 26) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team hosted perennial Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) powerhouse Saint Vincent on Wednesday evening. The Yellow Jackets had a night to celebrate as they got off to a fast start, weathered a Bearcat comeback and pulled out a 60-59 victory over the Bearcats.
 
Waynesburg's (2-14, 2-8) win forced a lot of monkeys off the team's back. Not only did it end the Jackets' seven-game losing streak, but it also snapped a 12-game skid to Saint Vincent (3-9, 2-6).
 
The Bearcats took a brief early lead at 4-2, to which Waynesburg answered with a 15-5 run that ended with a layup from freshman forward Madisen Dayton (Ridgeley, W.Va. / Calvary Christian Academy). Trailing 17-9, Saint Vincent dropped in a field goal of its own to make the score 17-11. The Jackets bounced back to end the opening quarter on a high note. Junior point guard Anika Dansby (Massilon, Pa. / Washington) re-established an eight-point lead with a layup, before Dayton picked up two more field goals to give the home team a 23-11 advantage at the end of 10 minutes of action.
 
Things kept rolling Waynesburg's way in the opening 40 seconds of action thanks to a three pointer from sophomore guard Avery Robinson (Ravenna, Ohio / Ravenna) and a layup courtesy of senior center Brooke Fuller (Allison Park, Pa. / Hampton). Trailing 28-11, Saint Vincent closed out the half with a 15-4 run, and by the time the two squads broke for their respective locker rooms, the Jackets led 32-26.
 
Waynesburg held onto the lead until midway through the third quarter, when Saint Vincent regained the advantage at 39-38. A Dansby free throw retied the score at 39-39 and started a 7-0 run that put the home team ahead 46-40. After 30 minutes of play, the Jackets were holding on to a slim 48-45 edge.
 
After 1:19 had expired in the fourth, Saint Vincent regained the lead at 52-51. It was the first of five lead changes and multiple ties exchanged by the two conference rivals. However, with just 26 seconds showing on the clock and heart break on the horizon for Waynesburg, the Jackets needed someone to step up and make a play.
 
Fuller proved to be up to the task as she took a feed from Robinson and dropped in the game-deciding field goal that turned a 59-58 deficit into a one-point win. Just for good measure, Fuller followed the basket with not one, but two blocks to help seal up the victory.
 
Robinson and Dayton tied for the Waynesburg lead in scoring with 16 points each in the victory. Fuller had a solid all-around evening with 14 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Dansby tied for the game lead with 11 rebounds, while senior guard Kacey Kastroll (South Park, Pa. / South Park) only scored four points, but was terrific in other areas, as was evident by her 10 rebounds, eight assists and just one turnover.
 
Waynesburg is back in action on Saturday, Jan. 29, when it travels to Franciscan. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.