GREENVILLE, Pa. (Feb. 2) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team traveled to Thiel on Wednesday for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) showdown with the Tomcats. The Yellow Jackets threw a balanced offensive attack at the host squad and, while it wasn't always pretty, they came out on the right end of an 83-66 final score.
 
It was the third win in a row for Waynesburg (4-14, 4-8), which jumped out to a 23-9 lead after one quarter of play. After Thiel (4-11, 2-7) took a 5-3 advantage after 2:43 of play, the Jackets pieced together a 12-3 run that put them ahead 15-8 with just over two minutes showing on the clock. Those final 120 seconds or so saw the road squad score eight of the final nine points of the period to take its 14-point lead into quarter number two.
 
Waynesburg kept momentum on its side after the break and used an 8-2 start to jump ahead 31-11. That lead grew as large as 22 points on several occasions before the halftime break. Thiel scored five of the final six points of the period to make the score 42-24 when the two squads broke for their respective locker rooms.
 
The third quarter saw Thiel chip away at the Jacket lead and pull to within 11 points (58-47) after 8:45 of action in the period. A three pointer by senior guard Kacey Kastroll (South Park Pa. / South Park) ended the quarter on a high note and put Waynesburg up 61-47 heading into the fourth.
 
Thiel came out strong to open the final 10 minutes of play and cut its deficit down to 69-59 with eight minutes remaining in the contest. However, another trey by Kastroll combined with a pair of field goals from senior center Brooke Fuller (Allison Park, Pa. / Hampton) expanded the Yellow Jacket advantage to 76-59. The two teams traded points down the stretch before Waynesburg celebrated the victory.
 
Five different Jackets scored between 12 and 17 points each in their most recent win. Kastroll and sophomore guard Marley Wolf (Ellwood City, Pa. / Riverside) led the charge by tying for the team high. Kastroll tallied 15 of her points on five made three pointers in seven attempts. Wolf also did a fine job of getting the rest of the offense involved with a game-high seven assists.
 
Sophomore Avery Robinson (Ravenna, Ohio / Ravenna) recorded a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double, while also chipping in six assists for a strong all-around effort. Speaking of double-doubles, freshman Madisen Dayton (Ridgeley, W.Va. / Calvary Christian Academy) posted the first of her collegiate career with 12 points and 12 boards.
 
Fuller likely would have made it three double-doubles for Waynesburg, as she went for 12 points and eight rebounds over only 20 minutes on the court before fouling out.
 
Junior point guard Anika Dansby (Massilon, Ohio / Washington) posted another solid all-around showing after logging seven points, seven rebounds and five assists.
 
The Jackets managed to post a 17-point victory, despite being on the wrong end a sizeable disadvantage in terms of free throw shooting. The Tomcats knocked down 22-of-29 attempts, while Waynesburg connected on eight-of-12 tries. The Jackets converted 33 field goals, while holding Thiel to 18 makes.
 
Waynesburg will try for a fourth-straight victory on Saturday, Feb. 5, when it hosts Chatham for a 1p.m. tipoff.