YORK, Pa. (November 15) - The Waynesburg University women's basketball team faced Salisbury in the consolation game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, which was hosted by York (Pa.) College, on Saturday. Waynesburg led late, but couldn't hold off the Seagulls, who took the contest 76-70.
 
The first quarter was an accurate indicator of how Saturday's clash would progress, as Waynesburg (0-2) and Salisbury (2-1) traded multiple leads and ties. The Jackets held a slim 23-20 lead over the first 10 minutes.
 
Three pointers by senior Clara-Paige Miller (Waynesburg, Pa. / Waynesburg Central) and sophomore Macie Justice (Washington, Pa. / Trinity) allowed the Orange and Black to build a 29-22 advantage early in the second quarter. The Jackets led throughout the period, but a small 6-0 Salisbury run just before halftime cut its deficit to 43-41, which was also the score at halftime.
 
Four-straight points out of halftime pushed the Gulls ahead 45-43, but Waynesburg eventually moved back ahead at 50-48 on a bucket by junior Kara McFadden (Painesville, Ohio / Fairport Harding). Unfortunately, Salisbury ended the quarter with an 8-0 run that gave it a 56-50 edge heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
 
Waynesburg grabbed momentum over the first 2:46 of the quarter with six-straight points that tied the score at 56-56. Just seconds later, a layup by senior Kalista Friday (Woodsfield, Ohio / Monroe Central) gave the Jackets the lead back at 58-57.
 
The two teams battled over the final seven minutes, but that deciding stretch ultimately belonged to Salisbury, which knocked down a trio of foul shots over the last 24 seconds of play to clinch the six-point win.
 
Friday paced Waynesburg on Saturday afternoon with a game-high 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor. She also converted all five of her free throws, grabbed six rebounds and dished out a game-high four assists. She was named to the all-tournament team after averaging 17 points per game.
 
McFadden poured in 20 points of her own on nine-of-18 shooting, while Miller chipped in nine points and eight rebounds. Speaking of boards, sophomore Gracelin Corley (Elkins, W.Va. / Elkins) pulled down a squad-best nine of them on the day to go along with nine points.
 
Waynesburg hits the road on Tuesday, Nov. 18, to take on Carlow. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.