WAYNESBURG, Pa. – The Geneva College women's basketball team held off a late rally on Wednesday night at Waynesburg, defeating the Yellow Jackets 77-73 to give the Golden Tornadoes their third straight Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) victory. The win improves Geneva's record to 4-4 overall, including a 4-2 record in conference play.
The game got off to a good start for the women, with Geneva's full-court pressure giving Waynesburg problems. Waynesburg's only lead of the game came after the Yellow Jackets converted a three-point play on the opening possession of the game, but senior Mia San Nicolas leveled the score with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession.
The game stayed close early, with Geneva holding a 9-8 lead, before the Golden Tornadoes went on a run. A jumper from freshman Monica Lammie started the stretch, and two minutes later a three-pointer by Anna Ulmer with 2:23 left in the first quarter pushed the lead over double digits, 20-9. Senior Cynthia Milroy completed the 15-1 run with two free throws and a basket, giving Geneva an early 24-9 advantage.
Waynesburg settled down against the Geneva defensive pressure in the second quarter and kept the game within reach. The Golden Tornado lead hovered around double digits for most of the quarter before the Yellow Jackets finished the half well, scoring the final six points to close within 37-32 at the break.
Waynesburg carried that momentum into the third quarter, opening the period with a 7-2 run to pull even at 39-39. Geneva never let the Yellow Jackets take the lead, though, as junior Taylor Milroy knocked down a three-pointer to start an impressive response by the Golden Tornadoes. San Nicolas scored the next six points, followed by a conventional three-point play from Milroy. Freshman Aizlyn Thompson capped off the 14-2 run with a layup to give the Golden Tornadoes a 53-41 edge.
Waynesburg scored the next five points before Geneva closed the quarter with a flurry. Freshman Madison Kibler hit a bucket and then drained two three-pointers, sandwiched around a basket from San Nicolas, to give the women the final ten points of the quarter, increasing their lead 63-46. The win wouldn't come easily, though.
A jumper from San Nicolas early in the final quarter gave Geneva its biggest lead of the game, 67-49, before Waynesburg began to rally. The Yellow Jackets started to find the range from deep, scoring nine straight points to cut the Geneva lead to single digits, 67-58. Two minutes later, another three-pointer by Waynesburg brought the Yellow Jackets within 69-64 with 4:05 left.
Two buckets from Cynthia Milroy and a basket from San Nicolas kept Waynesburg at a distance over the next three minutes, but the Yellow Jackets kept pushing. Five straight points with less than a minute left pulled Waynesburg within 75-73 with 15 seconds remaining. San Nicolas was fouled and knocked down two big free throws, and Waynesburg missed on its final possession to allow Geneva to hold on for the 77-73 win.
San Nicolas again led the team with 19 points, while pulling down a career-high 17 rebounds and adding five blocks. Taylor Milroy scored 12 points, Kibler 11 points and Cynthia Milroy 10 points in a balanced offensive effort. Geneva shot 30-of-73 (41%) from the floor, including 7-of-25 (28%) from three-point range. Geneva also forced 29 Yellow Jacket turnovers.
Waynesburg finished 27-of-73 (37%) from the floor, 8-of-22 (36%) from three-point range. Kayla Howard led four Yellow Jackets in double figures with 18 points.
Geneva will wrap up its three-game road trip this week with a game at Saint Vincent on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
Through purposeful learning in a community reflecting the full spectrum of God's kingdom, a Geneva College experience inspires students to discover a faith-life calling in service to God and neighbor. Offering 195+ traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality and affordability. Geneva was founded and is governed by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) and is a founding member of both the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the International Association for Christian Education (IACE).
