WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Jan. 5) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team hosted Franciscan on Thursday night for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) matchup. After both teams struggled offensively in the first half, the scoring took a sharp move upwards over the third and fourth quarters, with the Yellow Jackets scoring 47 of their 68 points in a 68-56 victory.
 
Things started well for the visiting Barons (2-10, 1-7), who knocked down a pair of three pointers in the first quarter en route to an 18-12 lead after the first 10 minutes of play. Defense dominated quarter number two, as the Jackets (2-11, 2-6) allowed just four points to the road squad, while scoring nine points of their own.
 
By the time halftime rolled around, Franciscan was clinging to a 22-21 edge.
 
Following a layup by freshman forward Emma Seto (Allison, Pa. / Brownsville) to open the third quarter, Waynesburg jumped ahead 23-22. That field goal caused the first of nine lead changes that occurred over the first 5:09 of play in the period.
 
However, a layup by junior Avery Robinson (Ravenna, Ohio / Ravenna) that put Waynesburg ahead 34-33, also kicked off a 10-0 run that allowed the Jackets to take control of the contest. Junior Marley Wolf (Ellwood City, Pa. / Riverside) followed with a three pointer, before freshman Clara-Paige Miller (Waynesburg, Pa. / Waynesburg Central) knocked down a pair of free throws. Robinson capped the surge with another trey to put her team up 42-33 with 2:48 remaining in the period.
 
Franciscan cut the deficit to 42-39 with a pair of three pointers, before Robinson logged her third trey of the quarter to put the Jackets back ahead by six. The Barons dropped in the final basket of the period to make the score 45-41.
 
Waynesburg more than doubled its lead (50-41) over the first 1:10 of the fourth quarter thanks to a layup by freshman Tori Wesolowski (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) and yet another Robinson three. Franciscan cut its deficit to six, but the Jackets grew their advantage to as many 14, before closing out the victory.
 
The Jacket offense featured three double-digit scorers. Robinson led the trio by pouring in a game-high 26 points over 27 minutes played. She knocked down eight-of-16 tries from the floor, five-of-10 from three-point range and five-of-six from the free throw line.
 
Seto put together perhaps her best collegiate effort on the court by posting her third double-double of the season. She tallied 16 points on five-of-seven shooting from the field and six-of-seven from the line. The freshman forward tied for the game lead in both rebounds (13) rebounds and steals (four).
 
Senior guard Anika Dansby (Massilon, Ohio / Washington) also posted a double-double on 10 points and 10 rebounds and tied for the game lead with four assists.
 
Wesoloski was a defensive force in the paint. Not only were her seven blocks a game high, but the most by any PAC player this season.
 
Waynesburg outrebounded Franciscan 52-42 and its bench outscored the Baron reserves 42-6.
 
The Jackets face a huge test on Saturday, when they travel to PAC-leading Washington & Jefferson. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.