Jan 07, 2012
After a heated back and forth first half battle that saw the Bethany College women's basketball team lead by one at the break, the opposing Waynesburg Yellow Jackets were able to remain undefeated in the PAC as they rallied for the 92-76 win.
The first half saw four ties and six lead changes before Bethany could head into the locker room with the 45-44 lead. The Bison shot 57% from the field, while Waynesburg was right behind them shooting 45%. Senior guard Anne Wilson scored 12 of her 15 points in the first half, including a 4-4 showing at the foul line, to fuel the Bison offense.
The Yellow Jackets (11-2, 6-0) had their own sting, as junior forward Paige Pearce netted 14 first half points and senior point guard Hannah Hunter scored 11, including a half court buzzer beater to end the first half.
The second half saw much of the same with three ties and seven lead changes until Waynesburg gained the upper hand midway through the period. With 9:33 to go, Jessi Drayer made her foul shot to complete a four-point play, which gave the Yellow Jackets a 65-58 lead. Bethany trailed the rest of the second half as they only shot 33% from the floor and made just 10-of-20 from the foul line.
The Green & White finished the game with four different players scoring double digits. Wilson dropped in a team-best 15 points, while top scorers Audra Droginske, who netted 13, and Renee Shepherd, who scored 12, each brought down nine rebounds as well. Junior Kayla Taormina contributed with 13 points and four rebounds.
For Waynesburg, who are tied with Thomas More for first place in the PAC, Hunter had a huge game with 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Drayer's rare four-point play helped her net 21, while Pearce finished with 18 and Brittany Snyder scored 11.
The loss brings Bethany's record to 7-6 overall and 3-3 in the PAC. The Bison will look to better their .500 PAC record as they host another conference match up Wednesday versus Thiel in a 6:00 p.m. start tip-off.