WAYNESBURG, Pa. (January 29) – The Waynesburg University women's basketball team fell into an early deficit and could not dig out as the Jackets were defeated by Chatham 84-59 at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening.

Waynesburg moves to 10-9 on the season and 5-9 in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action. Chatham, the defending PAC champion, rises to 13-5, 11-3 PAC.

The Cougars scored the game's first 11 points and never trailed in the ballgame. Chatham outscored the Jackets in all four quarters, eclipsing 20 points in the first, third and fourth quarters.

Waynesburg trailed 21-9 at the end of the first quarter but worked back into a single digit deficit in the second and third quarters. Tori Wesolowski (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) scored three-straight baskets in a 6-0 Waynesburg run that trimmed the Cougar lead to 27-18 with 4:41 left in the first half. Chatham closed the period with a 6-2 run and led 33-20 at the half.

Wesoloski scored five points in a 7-3 Waynesburg spurt to open the third quarter, which brought the score to 36-27 just over two minutes into the second half. Chatham answered with an 11-2 run and led by double digits the rest of the way.

Kalista Friday (Woodsfield, Ohio / Monroe Central), Macie Justice (Washington, Pa. / Trinity) and Kara McFadden (Painesville, Ohio / Fairport Harding) each drained threes in the fourth quarter as the Jackets put up 23 points in the final 10 period but fell 84-59.

Friday led the Jackets with 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. Justice made four threes on her way to 12 points. Wesolowski had 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three blocks.

Turnovers proved costly for Waynesburg as the Cougars turned 22 Waynesburg giveaways into 27 points.

The Jackets had 16 assists on 20 made baskets and sank nine threes at a 33.3 percent rate on the night.

The Jackets travel to Allegheny on Saturday.