WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Feb. 7) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team honored its six seniors before and during Saturday's Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) matchup with Hiram. The Yellow Jackets bounced back from a slow start to take care of the Terriers by the final score of 79-62.
 
The victory was the Yellow Jackets' (11-10, 7-5) fifth-straight, which is their longest win streak since the 2015-16 season. The victory also kept them in a tie with Chatham for the fourth-and-final playoff spot in the PAC South Division.
 
Waynesburg started the game in a 2-0 hole after head coach Sam Jones elected to honor his senior class by trotting out a "starting six," which was comprised of Tori Wesolowski (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan), Clara-Paige Miller (Waynesburg, Pa. / Waynesburg Central), Madison Platt (Follansbee, W.Va. / Brooke), Aubrey Burns (Kittaning, Pa. / Armstrong) and Kalista Friday (Woodsfield, Ohio / Monroe Central). The Jackets were assessed a technical foul and the Terriers (7-14, 4-8) knocked down the free throws to take the early edge before the opening tip.
 
Hiram proceeded to score five of the first seven points after the official start of the game and led 7-2 following two minutes of play. Much to the pleasure of the home crowd that included a sizeable group of former Yellow Jackets who were in town to celebrate alumni day, the deficit was quickly erased thanks to a 10-0 Jacket run that included baskets from Friday, Burns and Miller. With 5:40 left in the opening 10 minutes, the home team was ahead 12-7.
 
The Terriers responded with an 11- 2 run of their own that put the visitors back in front 18-14 with less than a minute to play in the first.
 
Momentum swung back into the home team's favor when it scored seven of the period's final nine points. A bucket by junior Mia Henkins (Morgantown, W.Va. / Morgantown) gave the Jackets the lead back at 21-20 as the first quarter came to a close.
 
The home team gained firm control of the contest in the first 1:45 of the second quarter by scoring seven unanswered points to surge ahead 28-20. The Jackets never relinquished the lead from that point on. A layup by junior guard Hannah Ault (Romney, W.Va. / Hampshire) put Waynesburg ahead 44-34 at the break.
 
The Jackets jumped ahead 60-46 at the end of the third quarter and led by as many as 21 (79-58) in the fourth, before settling in for the win.
 
Five different Jackets scored between nine and 19 points on Saturday. Friday led the charge with a game-high 19 points and added a team-best 13 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. She also posted game highs in assists (4) and steals (3) to continue her sensational senior season.
 
Wesolowski and junior Kara McFadden (Painesville, Ohio / Fairport Harding) chipped in 13 each to the winning effort. Henkins came off the bench to score 11, while Miller just missed a double-double of her own with nine points and 11 boards.
 
Waynesburg continues its quest for the playoffs on Wednesday, with a road trip to PAC opponent Bethany. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.