BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – The Geneva College women's basketball team's struggles were extended on Saturday afternoon.  Facing another struggling team in Waynesburg that was also riding an identical seven-game losing streak, the Golden Tornadoes couldn't come up with a victory as the Yellow Jackets pulled away in the fourth quarter to end their losing streak, 93-76.  Waynesburg improved to 2-10, 1-3 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC), while Geneva fell to 1-9, 0-3 in the PAC.

Senior Jeana Luciana (Oakmont, Pa./Saint Joseph) scored the first basket of the game to give Geneva an early 2-0 lead, but it would prove to a short-lived lead for the Golden Tornadoes.  Waynesburg scored the next eight points to take an 8-2, and it left Geneva playing from behind most of the game.  Freshman Isabella Roth (Ellwood City, Pa./Ellwood City) hit a three-pointer to even the score at 10-10, but the Yellow Jackets responded with a 12-3 run to take a 22-13 lead with three minutes remaining in the quarter, and Waynesburg took a 31-25 lead after a high-scoring first period.

A bucket by junior Lauren Tipton (Glenside, Pa./Phil-Mont Christian) followed by three-pointers from junior Emily Melnek (Poland, Ohio/Poland) and Roth briefly regained the lead for Geneva midway through the second quarter, 36-35.  After a bucket by Waynesburg, Roth hit another three-pointer to give Geneva a 39-37 lead.  However, seven straight points by the Yellow Jackets put Geneva behind again, and the Golden Tornadoes would never lead again.  Waynesburg headed to the halftime break leading 49-46.

The Yellow Jackets extended their lead early in the second half to 59-50.  Five straight points by Tipton closed the gap to four points, but Geneva couldn't get much closer, with Waynesburg maintaining a small margin, 69-64, at the end of the third quarter.

The game turned early in the fourth quarter when Tipton picked up her fifth foul with Geneva trailing by five points, 71-66.  Tipton had paced the Golden Tornado offense for most of the second half, and without her presence in the middle of Geneva's lineup, Waynesburg took advantage.  The Yellow Jackets outscored Geneva 13-3 over the next four minutes, putting the game away, and Waynesburg closed out the victory, 93-76.

"Over the last five or six games, we have hit the same scenario midway through the fourth quarter," said Head Coach Michael Grinder.  "We have an opportunity to take control of the game, but we have yet to take the next step to make the plays we need late to put away the other team and come up with a victory."

Tipton again led the Geneva offense, finishing with 23 points and 11 rebounds.  Melnek was a factor from long range, scoring 17 points, including five three-pointers.  Luciana added 15 points, while Roth finished with 10 points.  The Golden Tornadoes were once again hurt on the boards, with Waynesburg holding a big edge, 65-44.  Geneva also struggled again from the line, making just 11-of-26 (42%) free throw attempts.

Geneva heads to rival Grove City next Wednesday evening for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff before returning home to face Westminster next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.


Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. Offering over 115 traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality. U.S. News & World Report ranks Geneva as a Top Three Best Value Regional University with one of the top engineering programs in the nation. Adhering to the truth of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God's Word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today's world.