WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Jan. 24) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team welcomed Westminster to the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse on Saturday for a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) matchup. The Yellow Jackets overcame a slow start to overwhelm the visiting Titans in an 86-74 win.
 
Saturday's 86 points tied for Waynesburg's (7-10, 3-5) highest scoring output of the season. The offensive outburst was fueled by three-straight quarters in which the Jackets scored at least 22 points and a final box score that featured five players scoring at least 13 points each.
 
The Titans (6-11, 3-5) pieced together the first big run of the afternoon when they closed the first quarter by scoring its final seven points to take a 22-14 advantage into period number two. Westminster's lead grew to nine early in the second, before a three pointer by sophomore Macie Justice (Washington, Pa. / Trinity) tilted momentum towards the home team.
 
Trailing 30-22, the Jackets closed out the second quarter by outscoring Westminster 18-7. A buzzer-beating layup by senior Kalista Friday (Woodsfield, Ohio / Monroe Central) put the home team ahead 40-37 going into the halftime break.
 
The Titans scored the first basket of the third quarter, but that only temporarily slowed the Jacket momentum that was carried over from the first half. Waynesburg responded by scoring the next 14 points to jump ahead 54-39 midway through the period. Friday scored eight of those points, while junior Mia Henkins (Morgantown, W.Va. / Morgantown) tacked on five of her own.
 
The Titans battled back to cut the deficit down to seven at 54-47 with 2:45 showing on the clock, but Waynesburg stopped the run and rebuilt a 10-point edge (64-54) heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
 
Once again, Westminster pulled to within seven as the game wore on to its conclusion. However, Waynesburg outscored the Titans 22-20 in the fourth to seal the win.
 
Friday led Waynesburg's balanced effort with game highs in points (19), rebounds (12), assists (8) and steals (6). She shot 9-of-17 from the floor and knocked down her only three point try of the day.
 
Henkins added 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and made three of four tries from downtown. Junior Julz Mohrbacher (Freedom, Pa. / Freedom) chipped in 16 points, six rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks.
 
Junior Kara McFadden (Painesville, Ohio / Fairport Harding) and Justice scored 13 points each, with McFadden further adding to the offense with six assists. Senior Clara-Paige Miller (Waynesburg, Pa. / Waynesburg Central) joined Friday as a double-digit rebounder with 11 boards, including seven of the offensive variety.
 
Waynesburg hits the road on Wednesday, Jan. 28, with a PAC trip to Franciscan. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.