WAYNESBURG, Pa. (February 22) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team outscored Thiel 19-5 in the fourth quarter to cap its season with a 75-63 victory in the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse on Saturday.

The strong fourth quarter performance brought the large senior day, alumni day and Jacket day crowd to its feet. Prior to the contest, seniors Madisen Dayton (Ridgeley, W. Va. / Calvary Christian Academy) and Raylee Furlong (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Cornerstone Christian Prep) were honored. At halftime, former Yellow Jackets back to the early 2000s were honored, including five former 1,000-point scorers.

With the win Waynesburg closes its season at 14-11 overall and 9-11 in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play. Thiel competed valiantly in its finale but ended the year 0-25, 0-20 PAC. 

The Tomcats drained seven first-half three-pointers en route to a 40-37 halftime advantage. Thiel used a 10-0 lead to push its advantage to 50-41 with 6:38 left in the third quarter.

Waynesburg scored with next 10 points to go up 51-50 with Julz Mohrbacher (Freedom, Pa. / Freedom) beginning and ending the spurt with Kara McFadden (Painesville, Ohio / Fairport Harding) and Mia Henkins (Morgantown, W. Va. / Morgantown) draining threes in the middle. The Tomcats scored the final four points of the quarter, all from the foul line, to carry a 58-56 lead into the fourth.

Dayton scored Waynesburg's first three baskets of the fourth with the third putting the Jackets ahead 60-62. McFadden followed with a three as the Jackets never trailed again. Waynesburg opened the fourth quarter with a 16-4 run with eight points supplied by Dayton. 

The Jacket defense held Thiel to 2-of-13 shooting and five turnovers in the fourth quarter. Furlong got on the scoresheet in her final game with a free throw in the game's last minute.

Dayton matched her career-high with 18 points and snagged five rebounds. Mohrbacher had 13 points, 13 rebounds and three steals. McFadden made three treys on her way to 11 points and five rebounds. Henkins finished with 10 points. Kalista Friday (Woodsfield, Ohio / Monroe Central) totaled eight points, a career-best nine assists and five rebounds. 

Waynesburg outrebounded Thiel 45-38 and finished plus-seven (18-11) in the turnover column. The Jackets made nine threes on the day while Thiel sank seven, none in the second half.

Waynesburg finishes with its most wins and highest winning percentage since the 2017-18 campaign. The Jackets finished one game back of sixth place, the cutoff for qualification in the PAC Tournament.