BETHANY, W.Va. (Feb. 11) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team traveled to Bethany on Wednesday night for a showdown with the Bison. Trailing by six heading into the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets unleashed their full offensive arsenal on the host Bison to the tune of 30 points in 10 minutes. That explosion, combined with a revitalized Jacket defensive effort, powered the road squad to an 82-71 victory.
 
Not only did Waynesburg (12-10, 8-5) run its current win streak to six games, which is the longest such stretch of success for the Jackets since the 2011-12 campaign, it also ended Bethany's (15-7, 7-3) nine-game win streak. Waynesburg now owns the longest active win streak in the conference.
 
After junior Kara McFadden (Painesville, Ohio / Fairport Harding) opened the scoring with a three pointer, the Bison fired back with seven-straight points. That four-point advantage was the largest lead for the Bison in the first quarter, who led by three (14-11) at the quarter break. Waynesburg's opening-period offense was led by senior Liv Ammons (Wadestown, W.Va. / Clay-Battelle), who scored five of the Jackets' 11 first quarter points.
 
Waynesburg's deficit still sat at three at halftime, as each team posted 15 points in the second quarter. Friday paced the Yellow Jackets in the period with seven points.
 
Bethany appeared to take control of the contest in the third quarter by building up a 43-31 advantage with 6:16 showing on the clock. McFadden hit back-to-back three-pointers to stop the Bison run. Shortly thereafter, both Ammons and McFadden reached double digits in points, helping keep the Yellow Jackets within striking distance. Waynesburg trailed by six entering the fourth quarter.
 
Friday joined her two teammates in double figures with an old-fashioned three-point play early in the fourth that was part of a game-deciding 20-3 Waynesburg run to start the final frame. McFadden and senior Kalista Friday (Woodsfield, Ohio / Monroe Central) each drilled three-pointers during the scoring outburst that put their team ahead 74-63 with just over three minutes left to play.
 
After the run, the Yellow Jackets not only maintained the lead, but expanded it to 14 (80-66) before settling in for the victory
 
Two Yellow Jackets shined extra bright in the crucial victory. McFadden scored a season high 23 points, which was just a point shy of her personal best as Jacket. She connected on 7-of-14 tries from the floor, but was particularly dangerous from long range, where she knocked down 5-of-10 three-point attempts. She helped out her teammates with six assists.
 
Friday flirted with a triple-double as she continues to play at a first-team All-PAC level. She tallied 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor and a flawless 5-for-5 showing at the foul line. Her nine assists matched Bethany's total for helpers and her eight rebounds were a team best. Friday also tied for the game lead with three steals.
 
Junior Mia Henkins (Morgantown, W.Va.) and Ammons chipped in 10 points each to add support in the victory. Junior Julz Mohrbacher (Freedom, Pa. / Freedom) matched Friday with eight rebounds.
 
The game was ultimately decided from beyond the three-point arc, where Waynesburg connected on 12-of-30 tries from long range, as compared to Bethany's six makes on 15 attempts. The Jackets really found their groove from downtown in the second half, when they knocked down 7-of-10 treys, including all four in the third quarter.
 
The road team held a slight 39-36 advantage on the boards as well.
 
Wednesday's win kept the Jackets in a tie with Chatham for the fourth-and-final playoff spot in the PAC South Division.
 
Waynesburg's next contest comes this Saturday against Grove City. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m.