MEADVILLE, Pa. (February 1) – After falling behind by as many as 24 points in the first half, the Waynesburg University women's basketball team worked back within 10 multiple times in the second half but fell short 87-78 at Allegheny on Saturday.

The Jackets fall to 10-10 on the season and 5-10 in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play. Allegheny keeps pace in the chase for the top overall seed in the PAC at 13-6, 12-2 PAC.

Allegheny opened the game with a 12-3 run and stretched its advantage to 20-6 and led by 14 (24-10) at the end of the first quarter.

The Gators sank five three-pointers in the second quarter as Allegheny's lead grew to as many as 24 points (49-25) late in the first half. Julz Mohrbacher (Freedom, Pa. / Freedom )scored 11 points in the second quarter as the Jackets went into halftime trailing 52-33.

Waynesburg opened the second half with Tori Wesolowski (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) and Kalista Friday (Woodsfield, Ohio / Monroe Central) combining for an 11-2 run to work back to a 10-point deficit (54-44) four minutes into the third quarter. Allegheny answered with six-straight points before the Jackets responded with a 6-0 string of its own to get back to a 10-point difference. Kara McFadden (Painesville, Ohio / Fairport Harding) scored the final four points of the period to make the score 66-56 heading into the fourth.

Allegheny made a pair of three-pointers in a 10-2 run to open the fourth quarter. Mia Henkins (Morgantown, W. Va. / Morgantown) drained three treys in a late 18-8 run over the final 3:42 of regulation as the Jackets worked the deficit back to single digits in the closing seconds.

Friday was Waynesburg's leading scorer with 18 points along with six assists, four rebounds and three steals. Mohrbacher went 10-for-11 from the foul line on her way to 16 points and nine rebounds. Wesolowski added 14 points and six boards. Henkins had 12 points, 10 of them coming in the game's final four minutes.

Waynesburg committed a season-low eight turnovers and scored 17 points off 17 Allegheny giveaways. The Jackets also had one of their top free throw shooting performances as the team shot 18-of-20 from the charity stripe.

Allegheny turned in an efficient offensive performance as the Gators shot 50 percent from the field and made nine threes at 47.4 percent. Emliy Lauer scored a game-high 27 points.

The Jackets return to action next Saturday at home against Westminster.