Park University's women's basketball program began Heart of America Athletic Conference play at Breckon Sports Center on Wednesday and fell victim to a comeback by the Bobcats, 79-74.

Park is now 2-2 on the season, while the Bobcats move to 4-1. This was the start of conference play for both teams so Park falls to 0-1 and Peru State starts off 2023 1-0.

The Pirates had a close first quarter with the Bobcats and held onto a 16-15 first quarter lead. Leading up to this though, the Pirates had to climb back from a 7-2 deficit to start the game. A 6-2 run by Park brought on by a Makayla Artis layup, a pair of Eden Billups free-throws, and a bucket from Angel Wiggins. It was an even spread of points by Park in the opening quarter, but Artis led all Park scores with four points.

The second quarter was as back-and-forth as it gets with neither team gaining separation with four lead changes and five ties in total for the first half. The Pirates were 40-percent from the field in the first half at 12-of-30, while the Bobcats were at 33-percent at 12-of-36. Three-point baskets were a premium with only three for the half by either side. Emma Perry scored the lone Pirate three of the half and Park was one-of-five as a team from beyond the arc. Park was able to take a four-point lead on a three-point and-one by Wiggins at 4:46 to play, 26-22. A 7-2 run by the Bobcats in response gave them a 29-28 advantage capped off by a made three-pointer, 29-28. With time ticking down in the first half, Nevaeh Spillman and Wiggins contributed to a 4-2 swing to take the lead into halftime, 32-31.

It was a big uptick in scoring in the third quarter for Park with their most of the game with 23 points. Perry exclusively took her team's three-pointers and was three-for-three in the third quarter and made her other bucket to be a perfect four-of-four from the field. Her 11 points in the third quarter gave Park a 58-48 lead going into the final quarter. In the last 4:30 to play in the third quarter, Park went on an impressive 17-6 run capped off by a buzzer beater by Billups to take both teams to the fourth quarter.

The Pirates kept it going strong to begin the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run in the first 1:31 of play for their largest lead of 17 points, 65-48. The Bobcats were able to fight back in it though with two and-one's in the fourth quarter and a made three-pointer to bring it with six points at 3:55 remaining, 69-63. Park committed 18 turnovers to Peru State's 14, which amounted to an eight-point advantage for the Bobcats over Park, 21 to 13. In the last 1:21 to play, the Bobcats made a layup to come within one point, 74-73, and then a steal on the in-bounds pass and a score gave the Bobcats the lead for the first time since 4:37 in the third quarter. Peru State would get the ball back and hold on for the 79-74 victory. An 8-0 run closed out the game for the Bobcats.

The Pirates were led by three double-figure scorers in Perry with 15, and the pairing of Wiggins and Billups for 11 points each.

As a team, Park hit 25-of-58 from the field for 43.1-percent and 5-of-13 from beyond the arc.

Perry and Artis got to work with seven rebounds apiece. Marina Perdiguero was a close second at six rebounds. Perdiguero also gave a hand defensively with two blocks.
Billups was effective on the defensive side as well with three steals.

Park continues the Heart schedule with William Penn University on Saturday, November 18 in Breckon Sports Center at 3pm. WATCH
Box Score