WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Dec. 6) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team hosted Geneva on Wednesday evening for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) contest. The game was a true see-saw affair, as each squad dominated two of the matchup's four quarters. Unfortunately, the visiting Golden Tornadoes were able to stave off the Yellow Jackets' final attempt at a rally and hold on for a 77-73 victory.
 
Geneva (4-4, 4-2) got things going by outscoring Waynesburg (0-8, 0-5) 24-11 in the first quarter. The Yellow Jackets bounced back by outscoring the opposition 21-13 in period number two. The highlight of that second quarter was a 6-0 run that lasted 1:36 and closed out the first half. Senior Anika Dansby (Massilon, Ohio / Washington), freshman Kayla Howard (McDonald, Pa. / West Allegheny) and freshman Julz Mohrbacher (Freedom, Pa. / Freedom) scored during the surge.
 
As the two teams broke for halftime, the Golden Tornadoes held a 37-32 lead.
 
The Jackets carried their momentum into the early portion of the third quarter and tied the score at 39-39 thanks to a 7-2 run that included field goals from Howard, Mohrbacher and freshman Kalista Friday (Woodside, Ohio / Monroe Central). Unfortunately, that was the last time the home team was able to pull even with Geneva on the evening.
 
The Golden Tornadoes also appeared to take firm control of the contest by exploding for a 24-7 run over the remainder of the third quarter. Heading into the fourth, the Orange and Black found itself in a 63-46 hole. That deficit swelled to 67-49 two minutes into the period, but Waynesburg showed its mettle by not giving up the fight, despite the daunting challenge in front of it.
 
Once again, the Jacket offense found its rhythm, as the home team scored 24 of the contest's final 34 points over the evening's final eight minutes of action. Waynesburg started its comeback attempt with a 9-0 run that made the score 67-58. After the GT's responded with a field goal of their own, back-to-back treys by freshmen Mia Henkins (Morgantown, W.Va. / Morgantown) and Kalista Friday (Woodsfield, Ohio / Monroe Central) pulled the host squad to within four points (69-64) with just over four minutes left to play.
 
Despite Waynesburg's efforts, it still trailed by seven (75-68) with 20 seconds showing on the clock. Junior Madisen Dayton (Ridgeley, W.Va. / Calvary Christian Academy) cut the deficit down to five at 75-70, before McFadden converted an old-fashioned three-point play to pull the host squad to within two points of tying the score.
 
Unfortunately, Geneva was able to convert a pair of free throws to clinch its victory.
 
Howard followed up being named PAC Newcomer of the Week on Monday with a team-high 18 points on Wednesday. She added five rebounds and two blocks to her evening.
 
Three other Jackets joined Howard as double-digit scorers. McFadden and Dayton dropped in 12 each, with the latter converting six-of-eight tries from the floor and grabbing six rebounds. Friday not only tallied 10 points but yanked down eight rebounds, handed out a contest-best seven assists and swiped four steals.
 
Speaking of steals, Dansby logged a squad-best six of them to go along with six points, six rebounds and four assists. Mohrbacher paced Waynesburg with 11 boards.
 
After hosting three-straight opponents at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse, the Yellow Jackets will play their next three on the road, starting with a trip to fellow PAC member Allegheny on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.