For the second straight game, the Waynesburg University women’s basketball team lost by one possession, as this time, they were defeated by Muskingum University, 75-74 this past Monday. 

Waynesburg, leading 74-73 with 11 seconds left, used its foul to give. But, on the next inbound, Waynesburg fouled again, putting Muskingum in the bonus and sending them to the line, where the Muskies made one of two shots to tie it up.

Waynesburg missed the go ahead shot with a few seconds left in the game, and another foul sent Muskingum back to the line, where they once again made one of two foul shots.

With 1.7 seconds left, Waynesburg used its final timeout to inbound the ball across half court, but the inbound was knocked away, and time ran out.

Senior guard Kalista Friday led the game in total points with 23, and also hauled in nine rebounds. Friday opened the game with a 5-0 run of her own, hitting a three pointer and a floater in the first 60 seconds of the contest. 

“I’ve learned to just let the flow of the game come to me and not force myself mentally or physically to any specific standard,” Friday said. 

Late in the first quarter, Muskingum led 19-13 in what ended up as their biggest lead of the game. Waynesburg was able to pull within two at the quarter’s end. 

Junior guard Mia Henkins scored all six of her points during the second quarter to help the Yellow Jackets lead by one at halftime. 

“Having good defensive possessions in a row is honestly what gets me going offensively,” Henkins said. “Having that positive mindset from getting stops and not letting them score definitely translates on the offensive end and leads to made shots.”

Henkins has struggled from beyond the arc in the last two contests, shooting a combined 0-of-11. 

“Staying in the gym and working on my shot before practice this week is the only thing that can really end a slump,” Henkins said. “Staying in the gym consistently, especially with a week straight of practices leading up to our last game before Christmas on Saturday will be crucial.”

Waynesburg grabbed its biggest lead, 59-51, with a minute to play in the third quarter. They outscored Muskingum 22-17 in the period, heading into the fourth quarter up by six. 

Muskingum tied it at 65 with seven minutes left. Waynesburg went on a 7-2 run to follow, capped off with junior Julz Mohrbacher going 1-for-2 in two consecutive trips to the foul line.

Muskingum scored the next six, taking a 73-72 lead with 24 seconds left. Junior Kara McFadden hit two free throws to put Waynesburg back on top, but Muskingum capitalized on the two late fouls committed by the Yellow Jackets to win 75-74.

“We’ve had a few early bumps in the road but that doesn’t count us out of our goals,” Friday said. “We need to stay focused on getting better and taking it one game at a time.”

The Yellow Jackets fell to 3-6 overall after dropping this non-conference matchup. Next up, they will host their last game of a seven-game homestand, as Penn State Altoona travels to Waynesburg this Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip-off.