WAYNESBURG, Pa. (December 30) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team led for nearly all 40 minutes as the Yellow Jackets closed the 2024 calendar year with a 75-60 win over Hiram in the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse on Monday afternoon.

Waynesburg goes into the new year with a 6-5 record while Hiram falls to 7-5. The Jackets snapped a four-game losing skid against the Terriers and notched their first win in the series since 2017.

Tori Wesolowski (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) scored three baskets in an 11-4 Waynesburg run to open the ballgame. Kayla Howard (South Yarmouth, Mass. / West Allegheny) scored a pair of baskets late in the quarter as the Jackets led 15-10 after the opening period.

Clara-Page Miller (Waynesburg, Pa. / Waynesburg Central) and Mia Henkins (Morgantown, W. Va. / Morgantown) both drained threes in a 12-0 Jacket spurt to open the second quarter as the Jackets led by 17 (27-10) three minutes into the frame. Hiram ended the half on an 18-3 run over the final seven minutes of the half to narrow the margin to 30-28.

The Terriers took their only lead of the day (31-30) with a three-pointer to open the second half. Waynesburg answered 28 seconds later with two free throws by Julz Mohrbacher (Freedom, Pa. / Freedom). Mohrbacher made four-straight foul shots and a jumper in an 11-2 Waynesburg run that put the hosts ahead 41-33. The Jackets pushed their advantage back to double digits (48-38) after baskets by Howard and Jaden Sturm (Clarksburg, W.Va. / Robert C. Byrd).

Hiram used a pair of treys to get back within two (52-50) with 8:47 remaining. Waynesburg scored 10 of the next 11 points and led by at least eight the rest of the way. Sturm drilled a dagger three-pointer with 2:03 left to push Waynesburg ahead 65-55. The Jackets made five foul shots in the final 33 seconds to secure the 15-point win.

Mohrbacher went 12-for-17 at the foul line to finish with 16 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and three blocks. Wesolowski had 12 points and six rebounds. Henkins added a dozen points and four boards. Kalista Friday (Woodsfield, Ohio / Monroe Central) had eight points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals.

The Jackets led for 39:26 and only trailed for 28 seconds in the ballgame. Waynesburg had a 53-43 edge on the glass and were plus-six in the turnover margin (17-11). The Jackets blocked eight shots on the day, led by Howard with four. 

The Jackets resume Presidents' Athletic Conference play in the new year at Saint Vincent on Saturday.