Nathan Grella The Waynesburg University women’s basketball team traveled to Bethany College on Thursday night after the game was originally scheduled for Wednesday. The Lady Jackets got stomped by the Bison 72-51.
The Jackets were hit with a surprise before they even got on the bus to leave. Departure was delayed with the news of head coach Sam Jones having to miss the game due to COVID-related issues. Assistant coach Andrea Orlosky was forced into head coaching duties for the first time.
“We lost, so it could’ve been better,” Orlosky said after the game. “But, you learn, you grow, you move on from it and on to the next one.”
The first 10 minutes of the game were ugly for the orange and black. After the first quarter, Orlosky’s squad was down 24-6. Sophomore Avery Robinson was the only Jacket to score.
Meanwhile, freshman sensation Lindsey Garrison dropped 15 points in the first quarter for Bethany. She finished the game with a career-high 39 points.
The Bison’s full-court press was a problem for the Jackets all game, causing multiple turnovers in the backcourt. Waynesburg finished with 22 total turnovers compared to Bethany’s 11.
The second quarter was much better offensively and defensively for Waynesburg.
“We realized we weren’t playing to our own standards,” Orlosky explained. “They were the ones that decided we needed to change this and they did.”
The Jackets continued to persevere and fight hard, despite being down double digits most of the game.
Avery Robinson was on fire from behind the arc going 6-8 from downtown. She led all Jackets with 19 points.
Senior Brooke Fuller entered the contest 12 points shy of becoming the 13th Jacket to reach 1,000 career points. The last one to do it, Waynesburg assistant and now interim head coach, Andrea Orlosky. Fuller finished the game with eight points on 3-10 shooting.
Orlosky was proud of her team’s effort tonight. Now, she has time to prepare and game plan for the Yellow Jackets’ next matchup.
“I think the team dynamic is completely different going in with Grove City,” Orlosky said. “Our focus is going to be on their intense, high-pressure press. Other than that, I just think a majority of our issues are the urgency and being smart with the ball. We’re going to work on those things and hopefully, come out stronger on Saturday.”
The Jackets will be without Jones for at least one more game. Their next game is Saturday, Jan. 26 at home versus the Grove City Wolverines. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.