GREENVILLE, Pa. (Jan. 30) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team traveled north to Thiel on Monday for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) matchup with the Tomcats. The two conference rivals battled down to the wire, but it was the Tomcats who held on for a 60-59 win.
 
Thiel (3-15, 2-12) got off to a hot start with a 15-2 run over the first 4:21 of play. Waynesburg (2-17, 2-12) closed the gap to seven points by the end of the first quarter thanks to an 11-5 surge. Freshman Emma Seto (Allison, Pa. / Brownsville), freshman Clara-Paige Miller (Waynesburg, Pa. / Waynesburg Central) and senior Anika Dansby (Massilon, Ohio / Washington) all scored during that stretch to make the score 20-13.
 
The Tomcats rebuilt a double-digit advantage (26-13) by scoring the first six points of the second period. Once again, the Jackets responded to the challenge, this time using an 11-2 surge to pull to within four points of tying the score at 28-24. Dansby scored five-straight points on a three pointer and two foul shots to bring about that score.
 
The host team regained momentum heading into halftime and by the time the two squads broke for their respective locker rooms, the Tomcats led 33-25.
 
Four minutes into the second quarter, Thiel boasted a 40-33 advantage. The Jackets were finally able to tie the score up with 2:12 showing on the third-quarter clock. Junior Marley Wolf (Ellwood City, Pa. / Riverside) sandwiched a pair of two-point field goals around a Dansby three pointer to make the score 40-40. The Tomcats regained the advantage at 42-40 with a basket coming just with 25 seconds remaining in the period.
 
After battling for almost 35 minutes, Waynesburg was finally able to take the lead over Thiel thanks to a 7-0 surge at the beginning of the fourth.
 
After the Tomcats stretched their lead to 44-40, baskets by Wolf and freshman Tori Wesolowski (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) tied the score at 44-44. A three-pointer by Dansby nudged Waynesburg ahead 47-44 with 6:35 left to play.
 
After Thiel tied the game back up, Miller produced another go-ahead basket for the Orange and Black.
 
The remainder of the contest was a back-and-forth affair, with the Jackets taking a three-point advantage thanks to five unanswered points on a Seto free throw, a jumper by freshman Alli Bailey (Mount Pleasant, Pa. / Mount Pleasant) and a layup by Dansby.
 
Unfortunately, that was Waynesburg's last lead of the day, as a Thiel three pointer on the ensuing possession tied things back up at 54-54. The Tomcat advantage grew to four (59-55) with just 24 seconds showing on the scoreboard.
 
The Jackets converted all of their final four foul shots. Thiel knocked down just one of its final four tries from the stripe, but it was just enough for the win. Waynesburg suffered the loss despite outscoring Thiel 34-27 during the second half.
 
Dansby did a little of everything on a productive night. She knocked down three-of-five three pointers and five-of-six foul shots to power a game-high 20-point performance. The veteran standout added 11 rebounds to a double-double effort. She was also a defensive presence with a contest-best six steals.
 
Wolf and Miller tallied 10 points and eight rebounds each off the bench, while Seto dominated the glass with a game-high 17 rebounds, including nine of the offensive variety.
 
Monday's game was the first of three-straight road games for the Jackets. They travel to New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, Feb 1, for another conference tilt against Westminster. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.