Tyler Aaron - The Yellow Jacket The Waynesburg women’s basketball team defeated Franciscan on Wednesday 71-60, but more notably, senior Kalista Friday scored her 1,000th career point.
Senior guard Kalista Friday led Waynesburg in points with 18, followed by junior guard Mia Henkins with 17 points.
Friday said she was emotional when she hit her 1,000th point in the fourth quarter of the game.
“When I achieved this milestone, it instantly just brought tears to my eyes,” Friday said. “I’ve always worked hard in basketball, and to see it pay off was a wonderful feeling.”
Friday said it meant a lot to her to have accomplished the milestone with all of her family and friends.
“It was very special to me to see them in the crowd, and WTOV9 broadcasting the game is actually my local news channel, so a lot of people from home were watching,” Friday said. “They all have watched me since youth league and achieved milestones in high school and now college, so it was just like a full circle moment.”
Senior teammate Tori Wesoloski spoke incredibly highly of Friday not just as a teammate, but as her friend.
“Kalista is my best friend and I’m so grateful that Waynesburg brought us together. As soon as she transferred her sophomore, we clicked instantly and were stuck at the hip ever since,” Wesoloski said. “Our connection we have definitely carries into basketball and I always love being on the court with her.”
Head Coach Sam Jones continued the praise and said that her performance throughout Friday’s career shows how big of an impact she has on the team.
“Kalista is a great player, works hard, tough competitor who wants to be coached,” Jones said. “She has made us a better team with her skill and what she brings as a person and teammate.”
Even with a lot of celebrating after the game, Friday is still focused on the road ahead for the rest of the season.
“Achieving 1,000 has definitely made me want to make this an even more memorable season by going on a run and hopefully making the playoffs,” Friday said.
Jones said that he is looking at everything for the team to take away from this win and apply it to the rest of the season.
“Attention to detail makes the difference for us,” Jones said.
Waynesburg improves to an 8-10 overall record and a 4-5 Presidents’ Athletic Conference record. Waynesburg sits fifth place in the PAC South Division standings. The top four teams in the South Division qualify for the PAC Playoffs.
The team’s next game is on Saturday, Jan. 31, at home versus the Thiel Tomcats at 1 p.m.