WAYNESBURG, PA. (Feb.3) – A strong end to a half to a disaster of a quarter. That was the story behind the Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets disappointing loss to the Allegheny College Gators.

Allegheny 72 Waynesburg 54

On Saturday the Yellow Jackets were looking to pick up its fifth win of the season against a Gator team who blew out the Yellow Jackets back in December at Allegheny 90-53.

In that game, the Yellow Jackets never garnered a lead as they were outscored in all four quarters. Offensively, the Gators shot above 50% overall and above 40% from three-point range with four players scoring in double figures. Then on the defensive side, the Gators would force the Yellow Jackets into committing 24 turnovers. 

Fast Forward to Saturday, Allegheny came into the game winning seven of their last eight games. As for the Yellow Jackets, since their upset win over Bethany on Jan. 20 they had lost four straight games. 

From tip-off, both teams were slow offensively shooting right at or below 30% from the field in the first quarter, but Allegheny would have the lead 15-11. 

In the second quarter, the Yellow Jackets would find a spark offensively and defensively to be down only by one point at the half. The freshman duo of Mia Henkins and Kayla Howard would score all 16 points in the quarter to cut the lead to 28-27 by halftime. 

We were down by 1 at half even with too many turnovers in the first half,” said Waynesburg head coach Sam Jones. “We did a nice job.”

Going into halftime Waynesburg had the momentum on their side, but that all changed in the third quarter. The Gators would take control in the third quarter scoring 30 points while only giving up nine points. On defense, they forced Waynesburg to commit nine turnovers and shoot an abysmal 18% in the third quarter. Offensively the Gators would shoot just below 50% in the quarter.

“We were a little lackadaisical in the first half,” said Allegheny head coach Kelly Muffley. “We were going through the motions. I just told them to turn up the intensity.”