GREENVILLE, Pa. (Jan. 13) – Offense was the name of the game when the Waynesburg University women's basketball team traveled to Thiel on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets scored its most points in over 20 years while defeating the Tomcats 99-81.
 
The Jackets (3-11, 2-8) racked up the impressive scoring total, which is the fourth-highest in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) this year, despite not having the services of freshman regular starters Kayla Howard (McDonald, Pa. / West Allegheny) and Kara McFadden (Painesville, Ohio / Fairport Harding).
 
The visiting team set the tone early by scoring the first 12 points of its most recent win. Sophomores Kalista Friday (Woodsfield, Ohio / Monroe Central) and Tori Wesolowski (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) logged five and four points, respectively during the run.
 
Waynesburg never trailed on the day, but Thiel (0-16, 0-11) scored 19 of the final 28 points in the opening quarter to cut the Jacket lead to 21-19 heading into the second. The Tomcats tied the score three times over the first four minutes of the quarter, before the Orange and Black finally took control of the game.
 
The Jackets outscored Thiel 29-5 over the next five minutes to take a 56-32 advantage with 1:16 showing on the clock. Junior Madisen Dayton (Ridgeley, W.Va. / Calvary Christian Academy) wrapped up a 37-point second quarter and put her team ahead 58-34 at halftime.
 
Waynesburg led by as many as 36 (79-43) as it outscored the home team 25-17 in the third quarter. The Tomcats battled back with a big fourth quarter and whittled its deficit down to 15 points, before the Jackets were able to close out their latest win.
 
A total of eight Jackets scored between eight and 16 points, respectively. Friday led the way with a team-high 16 points on an impressive seven-of-nine shooting from the floor. She added a squad-best six assists and grabbed five rebounds.
 
Freshman Mia Henkins (Morgantown, W.Va. / Morgantown) chipped in 15 points, all of which came from an efficient five-of-seven showing from three-point range. The theme of efficiency from the field continued with senior Marley Wolf (Ellwood City, Pa. / Riverside), who went five-for-10 from the floor and four-for-five from long range for 14 points.
 
Dayton just missed out on a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds. Freshman Julz Mohrbacher (Freedom, Pa. / Freedom) chipped in nine points, six rebounds, three blocks and three assists, while Wesolowski added eight points and five assists. Sophomore Clara-Paige Miller (Waynesburg, Pa. / Waynesburg Central) contributed eight points of her own to the winning effort.
 
The Jacket 3-point game was on point, as the Orange and Black connected on 14-of-26 from long range. Waynesburg also out-rebounded Thiel 58 to 37.
 
The Yellow Jackets open the second half of their PAC schedule on Wednesday, Jan. 17, with a home game against Westminster. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.