Jackets can’t keep up hot start, fall to Chatham for second time

Waynesburg now losers of two straight

The first quarter of Wednesday’s game against Chatham went about as well as the women’s basketball team could have hoped for.

The rest of the game, however, told a different tale. Chatham’s defense stiffened and held Waynesburg to just 18 points in the second half which resulted in a 67-53 victory in a Presidents’ Athletic Conference match up at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse.

The Yellow Jackets [4-15, 3-7] have  lost two games in a row, and Chatham [12-6 5-5] swept the season series.

After the first quarter, the Jackets scored held a 19-9 lead. 

“The first quarter was possibly one of the more complete quarters we’ve put together as a team both offensively and defensively,” Jones said.

That 10-point lead turned into a one-point lead at the half, and in the second 20 minutes, Chatham took control. 

Senior Alli DeLaney scored 16 points and went 6-9 from the field. She realizes the difference in Waynesburg’s play throughout the game.

“Our first quarter we came out very focused,” she said. “Defensively that’s probably our best quarter we put together all year. Going into halftime we were in a pretty good spot, but we just didn’t convert very well coming out afterwards. Our offense in the second half was not there. So, that was the problem.”

Sophomore Brooke Fuller was the other Yellow Jacket who scored in double figures with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

The Cougars had three players in double figures. PAC Player of the Year candidate Emily Ondo netted 19 points, and sophomores Aliyah Labriola and Kaitlyn Fertig scored 17 and 15 respectively. 

In the second half, Chatham’s press gave Waynesburg problems. Jones and DeLaney realize that mistakes could have been avoided despite the pressure. 

“I really thought our own mistakes were self-inflicted,” Jones said. “They changed [the press] a little bit. I thought we could have done a better job of handling that.”

“It’s just us keeping our composure and being able to pass fake it around them,” DeLaney said. “Overall tonight we had little spurts where we weren’t composed.”

For Jones, the first 10 minutes showed what Waynesburg can be if things are done right. 

“I think the first quarter showed us who we could be when we play with attention to detail and good focus and energy,” Jones said. “I do believe we have the capability of it for more than a quarter.”

Waynesburg is now seventh in PAC and will look to avoid a third straight loss at 1:30  Saturday when the Jackets visit Westminster. The Titans won the first game of the season, 81-69.