Waynesburg swept by Grove City
WAYNESBURG – A poor outing for the Waynesburg College men’s basketball team nearly came with a win with the Yellow Jackets failing to convert a last-second possession, losing to visiting Grove City Wednesday, 79-77. Waynesburg (9-6, 2-2) never led beyond the first four minutes of action as Grove City out-shot the Yellow Jackets from the field, 60 percent to 39 percent in the first half. The Wolverines (12-6, 3-1) finished the game shooting 54 percent to Waynesburg’s 44 percent.
An early lead for the Presidents’ Athletic Conference race was on the line. However, Grove City, the only PAC team to win at Waynesburg last season, extended its win streak over the Jackets to three with Wednesday’s win.
Senior guard Ray Robinson from Uniontown nailed a three-pointer from the top of the arc with 21 seconds remaining, waging the Jackets within one point at 78-77.
After a J.D. Collar free throw, Waynesburg looked to 6-foot-5 center Aaron Ankrom, a Waynesburg Central grad, to take the game winner. His fade-away jumper missed the mark as time expired.
Robinson led all scorers with 26 points, including a perfect 10 for 10 from the free-throw line. Point guard Beau Henderson scored in double figures for just the second time this season as he sank 11 points to go with his six assists.
Senior center Jake Marcoux also came through for a rare double-digit scoring performance as he netted his first, a season-high 12 points. Marcoux also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
Grove City’s Tanner Prosser had a stellar shooting game. He was perfect from the field (7-for-7) as he scored 18 points to go with his five assists. Nate Maurer led the Wolverines with 24 points, while Andy Vlajkovich and Ryan Eller pitched in with 11 points apiece. Mike Lukcic grabbed a team-high eight boards leading the Wolverines, who out-rebounded the Jackets 39-27.
The Waynesburg men host Thiel at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
In the women’s game, Leigh LeGare scored with 16 seconds left to give Grove City a 53-52 win over Waynesburg.
The Yellow Jackets (10-9, 1-3) led by as much as 13 points in the first half and eight in the second before the Lady Wolverines mounted a comeback culminating with three- straight field goals by Sandy O’Keefe.
O’Keefe gave Grove City its first lead with eight minutes remaining in the game. Waynesburg’s Trista Murphy missed a 17-foot, fast-break jumper as time expired.
Senior forward Kyana Bradley scored a game-high 19 points to go with her team-high eight rebounds. Her three steals were enough to surpass Bobbie Jo Graham (258) on Waynesburg’s career steal total with 261.
No other Yellow Jacket scored in double figures. Sophomore Ashley Urban scored eight points, while backcourt teammate Rachel Dillon recorded four assists after scoring the her only points on the game’s first bucket.
Freshman guard Candice Eyerman scored six points on a pair of three-pointers.
The two treys set a new school single-season record with 73 eclipsing Becky Chisler’s mark of 72 in 1994-95. Eyerman also registered five steals.
Grove City (6-10, 3-1) had two double-digit scorers as Christy Faller had 12 and Abby Moose 11.
Tje Waynesburg women host Thiel at 5 p.m. Saturday.