Waynesburg women’s basketball has secured their third straight win of the season in a overtime thriller against Carlow 80-79.

This marks the first time that the team has started the season 3-0 since the 2010-11 season. That year the Jackets made it up to a 6-0 start and by the end of the year had won the ECAC South championship.

The Yellow Jackets were leading by eight points in the third quarter, however lost the lead entering the fourth. 

“They bounced their way back. It was hard fought till the end,” head coach Sam Jones said. 

Junior guard Kalista Friday scored a career night with 32 points, helping her team comeback in the fourth quarter. Friday also recorded five rebounds and went 100-percent from the free throw line.

“I don’t know what really clicked for me,” Friday said. “But something clicked and I’m just glad it did.” 

Friday ended the game six points shy of the team’s single game record of 38 points, which has stood since the 1996-97 season.

Kara McFadden and Mia Henkins also contributed to the fourth quarter comeback with three pointers of their own. 

“That third (quarter) was horrendous,” Henkins said. “It’s fine to say it was. But my heart was racing there at the end with how that game came down and I am just super proud of how we finished.”

Waynesburg entered the second half up 39-31 against Carlow. The Celtics spun the momentum in its favor, going on a 20-7 run throughout the third quarter. The team had a total of 20 turnovers in this contest, more than half of them in this quarter alone. 

The turning point came in the middle of the fourth, after one final media timeout the Jackets would go from losing turnovers to forcing them. Friday shot a mid range jumper to tie the game at 70 with seven seconds remaining. 

After the tying jumper, forward Julz Mohrbacher blocked the game-winning shot for Carlow and a missed layup from the Celtics sent this game to overtime. 

With the crowd on their side, the Jackets battled in a back and forth five minute overtime period where it seemed no matter which squad had possession, they were bound to score. 

Carlow would commit multiple fouls with only 30 seconds remaining, putting the pressure on Henkins to secure the victory with two consecutive free throw shots.

After Henkins successfully drilled both free throws, she would be called on a three defensive foul on the other side of the court. Leading Carlow to reciprocate two free throws of its own. 

With the timeout over and two seconds remaining in overtime, Carlow lined up for the third free throw shot. The ball went up, hit the left side of the basket and fell off to the ground. And with that fall, came the hopes of a second overtime to a close for Carlow.

Waynesburg would gain possession and drain the final seconds of the clock, securing the third straight win on the season in a spectacular, movie-like finish. 

Waynesburg women’s basketball returns to action Monday night at 7:00 p.m to face the College of Wooster in the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse.